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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2010
Notes To The Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements | NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS United States Cellular Corporation (“U.S. Cellular”), a Delaware Corporation, is an 83%-owned subsidiary of Teleph one and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”). Nature of Operations U.S. Cellular owns, operates and invests in wireless systems throughout the United States. As of December 31, 2010, U.S. Cellular served 6.1 million customers in 26 states. U.S. Cellular operates as one reportable segment. Principles of Consolidation The accounting policies of U.S. Cellular conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). Unless otherwise specified, references to accounting provisions and GAAP in these notes refer to the requirements of the FASB ASC. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of U.S. Cellular, its majority-owned subsidiaries, general partnerships in which U.S. Cellular has a majority partnership interest and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which U.S. Cellular is the primary beneficiary. Both VIE and primary beneficiary represent terms defined by GAAP. Prior to January 1, 2010, the primary beneficiary of a VIE was the entity that recognized a majority of a VIE's expected gains or losses, as determined based on a quantitative model. Effective January 1, 2010, new provisions under GAAP related to accounting for VIEs provide for a more qualitative assessment in determining the primary beneficiary of a VIE. The revised consolidation guidance related to VIEs effective January 1, 2010 did not change U.S. Cellular's consolidated reporting entities. Effective January 1, 2009, U.S. Cellular adopted new required provisions under GAAP related to the accounting and reporting for noncontrolling interests. Pursuant to this adoption, the following provisions were applied prospectively effective January 1, 2009: All earnings and losses of a subsidiary are attributed to the parent and the noncontrolling interest, even if the losses attributable to the noncontrolling interest result in a deficit noncontrolling interest balance. Previously, any losses exceeding the noncontrolling interest's investment in the subsidiary were attributed to the parent. This change did not have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular's financial statements in 2010 or 2009. Once control of a subsidiary is obtained, changes in ownership interests in that subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions. Previously, decreases in ownership interest in a subsidiary were accounted for as equity transactions, while increases in ownership interests of a subsidiary were accounted for as step acquisitions. This change did not have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular's financial statements in 2010 or 2009. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Reclassifications Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2010 financial statement presentation. These reclassifications did not affect consolidated net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders, cash flows, assets, liabilities or equity for the years presented. Business Combinations Effective January 1, 2009, U.S. Cellular adopted new required provisions under GAAP related to accounting for business combinations. Although the revised provisions still require that all business combinations are to be accounted for at fair value in accordance with the acquisition method, they require U.S. Cellular to revise its application of the acquisition method in a number of significant aspects. Specifically, the new provisions require that transaction costs are to be expensed and that the acquirer must recognize 100% of the acquiree's assets and liabilities rather than a proportional share, for acquisitions of less than 100% of a business. In addition, the revised provisions eliminate the step acquisition model and provide that all business combinations, whether full, partial or step acquisitions, will result in all assets and liabilities of an acquired business being recorded at their fair values at the acquisition date. During 2008, U.S. Cellular applied the provisions of GAAP related to business combinations in effect during that period. Similar to the revised provisions, the previous provisions required the application of the acquisition method whereby business combinations were to be accounted for at fair value. However, the previous provisions were different in a number of respects, including (but not limited to) the requirement that all direct and incremental costs relating to an acquisition be included in the acquisition costs, and the requirement that the acquirer only recognize its proportional share of the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired in a partial business acquisition. Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (a) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and (b) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates are involved in accounting for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, depreciation, amortization and accretion, allowance for doubtful accounts, loyalty reward points, and income taxes. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash and short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Outstanding checks totaled $17.5 million and $2 1.0 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and are classified as Accounts payable-Trade in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Short-Term and Long-Term Investments As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, U.S. Cellular had $146.6 million and $0.3 million in Short-term investments and $46.0 million and $0 in Long-term investments, respectively. Short-term and Long-term investments consist of certificates of deposit (short-term only), U.S. treasuries and corporate notes, all of which are designated as held-to-maturity investments, and are recorded at amortized cost in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The corporate notes are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. For these investments, U.S. Cellular's objective is to earn a higher rate of return on funds that are not anticipated to be required to meet liquidity needs in the near term, while maintaining a low level of investment risk. See Note 3—Fair Value Measurements in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details on Short-term and Long-term investments. Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Accounts receivable primarily consist of amounts owed by customers pursuant to service contracts and for equipment sales, by agents for sales of equipment to them and by other wireless carriers whose customers have used U.S. Cellular's wireless systems. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses related to existing accounts receivable. The allowance is estimated based on historical experience and other factors that could affect collectability. Accounts receivable balances are reviewed on either an aggregate or individual basis for collectability depending on the type of receivable. When it is probable that an account balance will not be collected, the account balance is charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts. U.S. Cellular does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers. The changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:
|  | 2010 |  |  |  | 2009 |  |  |  | 2008 |
(Dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning balance | $ | 26,624 |  |  | $ | 8,372 |  |  | $ | 12,723 |
Additions, net of recoveries |  | 76,292 |  |  |  | 107,991 |  |  |  | 73,157 |
Deductions |  | (77,100 | ) |  |  | (89,739 | ) |  |  | (77,508 | )
Ending balance | $ | 25,816 |  |  | $ | 26,624 |  |  | $ | 8,372 |
Inventory Inventory primarily consists of wireless devices stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method and market determined by replacement costs or estimated net realizable value. Fair Value Measurements Under the provisions of GAAP, fair value i s a market-based measurement and not an entity-specific measurement, based on an exchange transaction in which the entity sells an asset or transfers a liability (exit price). The provisions also establish a fair value hierarchy that contains three levels for inputs used in fair value measurements. Level 1 inputs include quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets and liabilities in inactive markets. Level 3 inputs are unobservable. Licenses Licenses consist of costs incurred in acquiring Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) licenses to provide wireless service. These costs include amounts paid to license applicants and owners of interests in entities awarded licenses and all direct and incremental costs related to acquiring the licenses. U.S. Cellular has determined that wireless licenses are indefinite-lived intangible assets and, therefore, not subject to amortization based on the following factors: Radio spectrum is not a depleting asset. The ability to use radio spectrum is not limited to any one technology. U.S. Cellular and its consolidated subsidiaries are licensed to use radio spectrum through the FCC licensing process, which enables licensees to utilize specified portions of the spectrum for the provision of wireless service. U.S. Cellular and its consolidated subsidiaries are required to renew their FCC licenses every ten years or, in some cases, every fifteen years. T o date, all of U.S. Cellular's license renewal applications have been granted by the FCC. Generally, license renewal applications filed by licensees otherwise in compliance with FCC regulations are routinely granted. If, however, a license renewal application is challenged either by a competing applicant for the license or by a petition to deny the renewal application, the license will be renewed if the licensee can demonstrate its entitlement to a “renewal expectancy.” Licensees are entitled to such an expectancy if they can demonstrate to the FCC that they have provided “substantial service” during their license term and have “substantially complied” with FCC rules and policies. U.S. Cellular believes that it is probable that its future license renewal applications will be granted. Goodwill U.S. Cellular has goodwill as a result of its acquisitions of wireless markets. Such goodwill represents the excess of the total purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in these transactions. Goodwill and Licenses Impairment Assessment Goodwill and licenses must be assessed for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that such asset s might be impaired. The impairment test for goodwill is a two-step process. The first step compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, the second step of the test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step compares the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. To calculate the implied fair value of goodwill in this second step, an enterprise allocates the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that reporting unit (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value was the price paid to acquire the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amount assigned to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit is the implied fair value of goodwill. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized for that difference. The impairment test for an indefinite-lived intangible asset other than goodwill consist s of comparing the fair value of the intangible asset to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference. Quoted market prices in active markets are the best evidence of fair value of an intangible asset or reporting unit and are used when available. If quoted market prices are not available, the estimate of fair value is based on the best information available, including prices for similar assets and the use of other valuation techniques. Other valuation techniques include present value analysis, multiples of earnings or revenues, or similar performance measures. The use of these techniques involve assumptions by management about factors that are uncertain including future cash flows, the appropriate discount rate, and other inputs. Different assumptions for these inputs could create materially different results. Prior to 2009, U.S. Cellular completed the required annual impairment assessment of its licenses and goodwill as of April 1 of each year. As a result of the deterioration in the credit and financial markets and the decline of the overall economy in the fourth quarter of 2008, U.S. Cellular performed an interim impairment assessment of licenses and goodwill as of December 31, 2008. Effective April 1, 2009, U.S. Cellular adopted a new accounting policy whereby its annual impairment review of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets will be performed as of November 1 instead of the second quarter of each year. The change in the annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment testing date was made to better align the annual impairment test with the timing of U.S. Cellular's annual strategic planning process, which allows for a better estimate of the future cash flows used in discounted cash flow models to test for impairment. This change in accounting policy did not delay, accelerate or avoid an impairment charge. U.S. Cellular tests goodwill for impairment at the level of reporting referred to as a reporting unit. For purposes of impairment testing of goodwill in 2010 and 2009, U.S. Cellular identified five reporting units. The five reporting units represent five geographic groupings of FCC licenses, representing five geographic service areas. U.S. Cellular tests licenses for impairment at the level of reporting referred to as a unit of accounting. For purposes of its annual impairment testing of licenses as of November 1, 2010 and 2009, U.S. Cellular combined its FCC licenses into eighteen units of accounting. Of these, thirteen of such eighteen units of accounting represented geographic groupings of licenses which, because they were not being utilized and, therefore, were not expected to generate cash flows from operating activities in the foreseeable future, were considered separate units of accounting for purposes of impairment testing. The five units of accounting for which licenses are being utilized are referred to as “built licenses” and the thirteen units of accounting for which licenses are not being utilized are referred to as “unbuilt licenses.” For purposes of impairment testing of goodwill, U.S. Cellular prepares valuations of each of the five reporting units. A discounted cash flow approach was used to value each reporting unit, using value drivers and risks specific to the current industry and economic markets. The cash flow estimates incorporated assumptions that market participants would use in their estimates of fair value. Key assumptions made in this process were the discount rate, estimated future cash flows, projected capital expenditures and the terminal growth rate. In 2009, U.S. Cellular changed its method of estimating the fair value of built licenses for purposes of impairment testing from the multiple period excess cash flow method (“MPECF method”) to the build-out method. U.S. Cellular elected to make this change as the build-out method is a more widely used and accepted valuation method in estimating the fair value of licenses for purposes of impairment testing in the wireless industry. U.S. Cellular does not believe the build-out method yields a significantly different estimate of the fair value of licenses than the MPECF method. The MPECF method estimated the fair value of the units of accounting by measuring the future cash flows of the license groups, reduced by charges for contributory assets such as working capital, trademarks, existing subscribers, fixed assets and assembled workforce to arrive at the economic margin. A contributory asset charge for goodwill was subtracted from the economic margin to arrive at the after-tax excess cash flows applicable to the licenses. The build-out method estimates the value of licenses by calculating future cash flows from a hypothetical start-up wireless company and assumes that the only assets available upon formation are the underlying licenses. To apply this method, a hypothetical build-out of the company's wireless network, infrastructure, workforce and related costs are projected based on market participant information. Calculated cash flows, along with a terminal value, are discounted to the present and summed to determine the estimated fair value. For units of accounting which consist of unbuilt licenses, U.S. Cellular prepares estimates of fair value by reference to prices paid in recent auctions and market transactions where available. If such information is not available, the fair value of the unbuilt licenses is assumed to change by the same percentage, and in the same direction, that the fair value of built licenses measured using the build-out method changed during the period. Investments in Unconsolidated Entities Investments in unconsolidated entities consist of amounts invested in wireless entities in which U.S. Cellular holds a noncontrolling interest. U.S. Cellular follows the equity method of accounting for such investments in which its ownership interest equals or exceeds 20% for corporations and equals or exceeds 3% for partnerships and limited liability companies. The cost method of accounting is followed for such investments in which U.S. Cellular's ownership interest is less than 20% for corporations and is less than 3% for partnerships and limited liability companies and for investments for which U.S. Cellular does not have the ability to exercise significant influence. For its equity method investments for which financial information is readily available, U.S. Cellular records its equity in the earnings of the entity in the current period. For its equity method investments for which financial information is not readily available, U.S. Cellular records its equity in the earnings of the entity on a one quarter lag basis. Property, Plant and Equipment U.S. Cellular's Property, plant and equipment is stated at the original cost of construction or purchase including capitalized costs of certain taxes, payroll-related expenses, interest and estimated costs to remove the assets. Expenditures that enhance the productive capacity of assets in service or extend their useful lives are capitalized and depreciated. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs of assets in service are charged to System operations expense or Selling, general and administrative expense, as applicable. Retirements and disposals of assets are recorded by removing the original cost of the asset (along with the related accumulated depreciation) from plant in service and charging it, together with removal cost less any salvage realized, to Loss on asset disposals, net. Costs of developing new information systems are capitalized and amortized over their expected economic useful lives. Depreciation Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the assets. U.S. Cellular depreciates leasehold improvement assets associated with leased properties over periods ranging from one to thirty years; such periods approximate the shorter of the assets' economic lives or the specific lease terms. Useful lives of specific assets are reviewed throughout the year to determine if changes in technology or other business changes would warrant accelerating the depreciation of those specific assets. U.S. Cellular did not materially change the useful lives of its property, plant and equipment in 2010, 2009 or 2008. Impairment of Long-lived Assets U.S. Cellular reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired. The impairment test for tangible long-lived assets is a two-step process. The first step compares the carrying value of the asset (or asset group) with the estimated undiscounted cash flows over the remaining asset (or asset group) life. If the carrying value of the asset (or asset group) is greater than the undiscounted cash flows, the second step of the test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss. The second step compares the carrying value of the asset to its estimated fair value. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value (less cost to sell), an impairment loss is recognized for the difference. Quoted market prices in active markets are the best evidence of fair value of a tangible long-lived asset and are used when available. If quoted market prices are not available, the estimate of fair value is based on the best information available, including prices for similar assets and the use of other valuation techniques. A present value analysis of cash flow scenarios is often the best available valuation technique. The use of this technique involves assumptions by management about factors that are uncertain including future cash flows, the appropriate discount rate, and other inputs. Different assumptions for these inputs could create materially different results. Agent Liabilities U.S. Cellular has relationships with agents, which are independent businesses that obtain customers for U.S. Cellular. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, U.S. Cellular had accrued $71.3 million and $55.2 million, respectively, for amounts due to agents. This amount is included in Other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Other Assets and Deferred Charges Other assets and deferred charges primarily represent legal and other charges related to U.S. Cellular's various borrowing instruments, and are amortized over the respective term of each instrument. The amounts for deferred charges included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2010 and 2009, are shown net of accumulated amortization of $11.9 million and $1 1.8 million, respectively. Asset Retirement Obligations U.S. Cellular accounts for asset retirement obligations in accordance with GAAP, which require s entities to record the fair value of a liability for legal obligations associated with an asset retirement in the period in which the obligations are incurred. At the time the liability is incurred, U.S. Cellular records a liability equal to the net present value of the estimated cost of the asset retirement obligation and increases the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset by an equal amount. T he liability is accreted to its present value over a period ending with the estimated settlement date of the respective asset retirement obligation. Upon settlement of the obligation, any difference between the cost to retire the asset and the recorded liability (including accretion of discount) is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Treasury Shares Common Shares repurchased by U.S. Cellular are recorded at cost as treasury shares and result in a reduction of equity. Treasury shares are reissued as part of U.S. Cellular's stock-based compensation programs. When treasury shares are reissued, U.S. Cellular determines the cost using the first-in, first-out cost method. The difference between the cost of the treasury shares and reissuance price is included in Additional paid-in capital or Retained earnings. Revenue Recognition Revenues from wireless operations consist primarily of: Charges for access, airtime, roaming, long distance, data and other value added services provided to U.S. Cellular's retail customers and to end users through third-party resellers; Charges to carriers whose customers use U.S. Cellular's systems when roaming; Sales of equipment and accessories; Amounts received from the Universal Service Fund (“USF”) in states where U.S. Cellular has been designated an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (“ETC”); and Redemptions of loyalty reward points for products or services. Revenues related to wireless services and other value added services are recognized as services are rendered. Revenues billed in advance or in arrears of the services being provided are estimated and deferred or accrued, as appropriate. Revenues from sales of equipment and accessories are recognized when title and risk of loss passes to the agent or end-user customer. In October 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13, Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements—a consensus of FASB Emerging Issues Task Force ("ASU 2009-13"). ASU 2009-13 provides for less restrictive separation criteria that must be met for a deliverable to be considered a separate unit of accounting. Additionally, under this Standard, there is a hierarchy for determining the selling price of a unit of accounting and consideration must be allocated using a relative-selling price method. U.S. Cellular is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2009-13 on January 1, 2011, however elected to adopt the pro visions as of October 1, 2010 on a retroactive basis to January 1, 2010. U.S. Cellular made this election due to certain new service offerings (Belief Plans) with multiple elements that were introduced by U.S. Cellular in the fourth quarter of 2010. These new service offerings may include a combination of the following elements which are considered separate units of accounting under ASU 2009-13: wireless service (voice, messaging and data), wireless device s, phone replacement of such wireless handsets, and loyalty reward points that may be redeemed by customers for wireless products and services in future periods. The adoption of ASU 2009-13 on October 1, 2010 had no impact on any previously reported financial statement amounts for 2010 interim periods. U.S. Cellular allocates revenue to each element of these service offerings accounted for under ASU 2009-13 using the relative selling price method. Under this method, arrangement consideration, which consists of the amounts billed to the customer net of any cash-based discounts, are allocated to each element on the basis of their relative selling price, on a stand-alone basis. Such stand-alone selling price is determined in accordance with the following hierarchy: U.S. Cellular-specific objective evidence of stand-alone selling price, if available; otherwise Third-party evidence of selling price, if it is determinable; otherwise A best estimate of stand-alone selling price. U.S. Cellular estimates stand-alone selling prices of the elements of its new service offerings as follows: Wireless services – Based on the actual selling price U.S. Cellular offers when such plan is sold on a stand-alone basis, or if the plan is not sold on a stand-alone basis, U.S. Cellular's estimate of the price of such plan based on similar plans that are sold on a stand-alone basis. Wireless devices – Based on the selling price of the respective wireless device when it is sold on a stand-alone basis. Phone R eplacement – Based on U.S. Cellular's estimate of the price of this service if it were sold on a stand-alone basis, which was calculated by estimating the cost of this program plus a reasonable margin. Loyalty reward points – By estimating the retail price of the products and services for which points may be redeemed and dividing such amount by the number of loyalty points required to receive such products and services. This is calculated on a weighted average basis and requires U.S. Cellular to estimate the percentage of loyalty points that will be redeemed for each product or service. U.S. Cellular follows the deferred revenue method of accounting for its loyalty reward program. Under this method, revenue allocated to loyalty reward points is deferred and recognized at the time the customer redeems loyalty reward points. U.S. Cellular does not have sufficient historical data in which to estimate any portion of loyalty reward po ints that will not be redeemed. As such, 100% of the value of the loyalty reward points is deferred until redeemed. The introduction of these new service offerings in conjunction with the adoption of ASU 2009-13 required U.S. Cellular to defer the recognition of revenue related to amounts billed to customers that are attributed to loyalty reward points, and therefore impacted the timing of revenue recognition related to such service offering s. As of December 31, 2010, $7.1 million of revenue was deferred related t o loyalty reward points outstanding as of this date. T his amount was recorded in Customer deposits and deferred revenues (a current liability account) in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, as customers may redeem their reward points within the current period. Cash-based discounts and incentives, including discounts to customers who pay their bill s through the use of on-line bill payment methods, are recognized as a reduction of Operating revenues concurrently with the associated revenue, and are allocated to the various products and services in the bundled offering based on their respective relative selling price. In order to provide better control over wireless device quality, U.S. Cellular sells wireless device s to agents. U.S. Cellular pays rebates to agents at the time an agent activates a new customer or retains an existing customer in a transaction involving a wireless device. U.S. Cellular accounts for these rebates by reducing revenues at the time of the wireless device sale to the agent rather than at the time the agent activates a new customer or retains a current customer. Similarly, U.S. Cellular offers certain wireless device sales rebates and incentives to its retail customers and records the revenue net of the corresponding rebate or incentive. The total potential rebates and incentives are reduced by U.S. Cellular's estimate of rebates that will not be redeemed by customers based on historical experience of such redemptions. Activation fees charged with the sale of service only, where U.S. Cellular does not also sell a wireless device to the customer, are deferred and recognized over the average customer life. U.S. Cellular defers recognition of a portion of commission expenses related to these activations in the amount of deferred activation fee revenues. This method of accounting provides for matching of revenues and direct incremental costs associated with such activations within each reporting period. GAAP requires that activation fees charged with the sale of equipment and service to be allocated to the equipment and service based upon the relative selling prices of each item. This generally results in the recognition of the activation fee as additional wireless device revenue at the time of sale. ETC revenues recognized in the reporting period represent the amounts which U.S. Cellular is entitled to receive for such period, as determined and approved in connection with U.S. Cellular's designation as an ETC in various states. Amounts Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities U.S. Cellular records amounts collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities net within a tax liability account if the tax is assessed upon the customer and U.S. Cellular merely acts as an agent in collecting the tax on behalf of the imposing governmental authority. If the tax is assessed upon U.S. Cellular, then amounts collected from customers as recovery of the tax are recorded in Service revenues and amounts remitted to governmental authorities are recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities totaled $137.6 million, $109.1 million and $14 0.7 million for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Advertising Costs U.S. Cellular expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs totaled $265.2 million, $256.9 million and $27 7.8 million for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Income Taxes U.S. Cellular is included in a consolidated federal income tax return with other members of the TDS consolidated group. TDS and U.S. Cellular are parties to a Tax Allocation Agreement which provides that U.S. Cellular and its subsidiaries be included with the TDS affiliated group in a consolidated federal income tax return and in state income or franchise tax returns in certain situations. For financial statement purposes, U.S. Cellular and its subsidiaries calculate their income, income taxes and credits as if they comprised a separate affiliated group. Under the Tax Allocation Agreement, U.S. Cellular remits its applicable income tax payments to TDS. U.S. Cellular had a tax receivable balance with TDS of $40.8 million and a tax payable balance of $1.7 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Deferred taxes are computed using the liability method, whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for future deductible temporary differences and operating loss carryforwards, and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for future taxable temporary differences. Both deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rates anticipated to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. U.S. Cellular evaluates income tax uncertainties, assesses the probability of the ultimate settlement with the applicable taxing authority and records an amount based on that assessment. Stock-Based Compensation U.S. Cellular has established a long-term incentive plan, an employee stock purchase plan, and a non-employee director compensation plan. Also, U.S. Cellular employees are eligible to participate in the TDS employee stock purchase plan. These plans are described more fully in Note 15—Stock-based Compensation. These plans are considered compensatory plans; therefore, recognition of compensation cost for grants made under these plans is required. U.S. Cellular value s its share-based payment transactions using a Black-Scholes valuation model. S tock-based compensation cost recognized during the period is based on the portion of the share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest. Accordingly, stock-based compensation cost recognized has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. F orfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Pre-vesting forfeitures and expected life are estimated based on historical experience related to similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the stock-based awards, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior. U.S. Cellular believes that its historical experience provides the best estimates of future pre-vesting forfeitures and future expected life. The expected volatility assumption is based on the historical volatility of U.S. Cellular's common stock over a period commensurate with the expected life. The dividend yield assumption is zero because U.S. Cellular has never paid a dividend and has expressed its intention to retain all future earnings in the business. The risk-free interest rate assumption is determined using the implied yield for zero-coupon U.S. government issues with a remaining term that approximates the expected life of the stock options. Compensation cost for stock option awards is recognized over the respective requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period, on a straight-line basis for each separate vesting portion of the awards as if the awards were, in-substance, multiple awards (graded vesting attribution method). Defined Contribution Plan s U.S. Cellular participates in a qualified noncontributory defined contribution pension plan sponsored by TDS; such plan provides pension benefits for the employees of U.S. Cellular and its subsidiaries. Under this plan, pension benefits and costs are calculated separately for each participant and are funded currently. Pension costs were $11.6 million, $1 2.8 million and $10.3 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. U.S. Cellular also participates in a defined contribution retirement savings plan (“401(k) plan”), sponsored by TDS. Total costs incurred from U.S. Cellular's contributions to the 401(k) plan were $15.3 million, $14.3 million and $13.9 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Operating Leases U.S. Cellular is a party to various lease agreements for office space, retail sites, cell sites and equipment that are accounted for as operating leases. Certain leases have renewal options and/or fixed rental increases. Renewal options that are reasonably assured of exercise are included in determining the lease term. U.S. Cellular accounts for certain operating leases that contain rent abatements, lease incentives and/or fixed rental increases by recognizing lease revenue and expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In October 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-14, Certain Revenue Arrangements that include Software Elements (“ASU 2009-14”). ASU 2009-14 amends accounting and reporting guidance for revenue arrangements involving both tangible products and software that is “more than incidental to the tangible product as a whole.” ASU 2009-14 is effective for U.S. Cellular on January 1, 2011. U.S. Cellular does not anticipate that this pronouncement will have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations.

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