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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Shenandoah Telecommunications Company and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions for continuing operations have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results to be reported in future periods could differ from our estimates.
Revenue recognition The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from contracts with customers (“ASC 606”).
Our Broadband segment provides broadband data, video and voice services to residential, small and midsize businesses (“SMB”) and commercial customers in portions of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, via fiber optic and hybrid fiber coaxial cable networks. The Broadband segment also provides voice and DSL telephone services to customers in Virginia’s Shenandoah County and portions of adjacent counties as an RLEC.

Transaction price is measured as the amount billed, which is generally determined by list prices for goods and services less discounts offered. We allocate the total transaction price in these transactions based upon the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service. We generally recognize these revenues over time as customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of the service, with the exception of equipment sales and home wiring, which are recognized as revenue at a point in time when control transfers and when installation is complete, respectively. A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from customers who may cancel their subscriptions at any time without penalty. As such, the amount of deferred revenue related to unsatisfied performance obligations is not necessarily indicative of the future revenue to be recognized from the Company’s existing customers. Installation fees charged upfront without transfer of commensurate goods or services to the customer are allocated to services and are recognized ratably over the longer of the contract term or the period in which the unrecognized fee remains material to the contract, which we estimate to be approximately one year. Additionally, the Company incurs commission expenses related to in-house and third-party vendors which are capitalized and amortized over the expected customer benefit period.

Our Broadband segment also provides Ethernet and Wavelength fiber optic services to commercial fiber customers under capacity agreements, and the related revenue is recognized over time. In some cases, non-refundable upfront fees are charged for connecting commercial fiber customers to our fiber network. Those amounts are recognized ratably over the initial contract term.

The Broadband segment also leases dedicated fiber optic strands to customers as part of “dark fiber” agreements, which are accounted for as leases under ASC 842, Leases (“ASC 842”).

Our Tower segment leases space on owned cell towers to our Broadband segment, and to other wireless carriers. Revenue from these leases is accounted for under ASC 842.
Advertising Costs The Company expenses advertising costs and marketing production costs as incurred and includes such costs within selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
Fair value measurements The Company measures certain assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Company uses the fair value hierarchy to evaluate inputs used in determining the fair value of its assets and liabilities. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are (i) observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets (level 1); (ii) inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly (level 2); and (iii) unobservable inputs that require the Company to use present value and other valuation techniques in the determination of fair value (level 3).
The Company remeasures long-lived assets such as property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill at fair value when they are deemed to be impaired. The fair value of these assets is determined with valuation techniques using the best information available and may include quoted market prices, market comparables or discounted cash flow models.

The carrying amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these financial instruments. The carrying amount of the Company’s long-term debt, which have a floating interest rate, approximates fair value. The Company’s interest rate swaps are marked to market on a quarterly basis and are presented on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value.
Cash and cash equivalents Cash equivalents include all investments with an original maturity of three months or less. The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. Generally, such investments are in excess of FDIC or SIPC insurance limits.
Investments The Company investments measured at fair value primarily consist of supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) investments in a rabbi trust as a source of funding for future payments under the plan. The SERP’s investments were designated as trading securities and will be liquidated and paid out to the participants six months after retirement. The benefit obligation to participants is always equal to the value of the SERP assets under ASC 710, Compensation. Changes to the investments’ fair value are presented in Other income, net, while the reciprocal changes in the liability representative of compensatory expense, are presented in selling, general and administrative expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
The Company’s investments measured at cost primarily consist of CoBank’s Class A common stock derived from the CoBank patronage program. The investment is recognized as the Company’s initial investment in CoBank plus subsequent patronage distributions received from CoBank.
SERP investments at fair value: The fair value of the SERP investments are based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and are classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

Cost method investments: Our investment in CoBank’s Class A common stock, derived from the CoBank patronage program, represented substantially all of our cost method investments with a balance of $10.1 million and $10.0 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We recognized approximately $0.5 million, $0.1 million and $2.0 million of patronage income in other income (expense) in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company expects that approximately 88% of the patronage distributions will be collected in cash and 12% in equity in 2024.

Equity method investments: At December 31, 2022, the Company had a 20.0% ownership interest in Valley Network Partnership (“ValleyNet”). During 2023, ValleyNet ceased operations and was dissolved. In April 2023, Shentel received a payment of $0.1 million, representing Shentel’s remaining capital in the partnership, and the investment balance was derecognized from Shentel’s consolidated balance sheets. Prior to the commencement of dissolution proceedings, the Company and ValleyNet purchased capacity on one another’s fiber network, through related party transactions.
Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The Company capitalizes all costs associated with the purchase, deployment and installation of property, plant and equipment, including interest costs and internal labor costs on major capital projects during the period of their construction. Shentel capitalized $5.4 million and $0.7 million of interest costs for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Maintenance expense is recognized as incurred when repairs are performed that do not extend the life of property, plant and equipment. Expenses for major renewals and improvements, which significantly extend the useful lives of existing property and equipment, are capitalized and depreciated. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Labor costs associated with customer installation activities at existing service locations are expensed as incurred under industry specific guidance. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their useful lives or respective lease terms. Land is not depreciated. Refer to Note 5, Property, Plant and Equipment, for additional information.
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition costs over the fair value of tangible net assets and identifiable intangible assets of the businesses acquired. Cable franchise rights provide us with the non-exclusive right to provide video services in a specified area. Spectrum licenses are issued by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) and provide us with either an exclusive or priority access right to utilize designated radio frequency spectrum within specific geographic service areas to provide wireless communication services. While some cable franchises and spectrum licenses are issued for a fixed time (generally ten years and up to fifteen years, respectively), renewals have been granted routinely and at nominal costs. The Company believes it will be able to meet all requirements necessary to secure renewal of its cable franchise rights and spectrum licenses. Moreover, the Company has determined that there are currently no legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic or other factors that limit the useful lives of our cable franchises or spectrum licenses and, as a result, we account for cable franchise rights and spectrum licenses as indefinite-lived intangible assets.Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but rather, are subject to impairment testing annually, in the fourth quarter, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment based on the identification of reporting units. Our reporting units align with our reportable segments. We evaluated goodwill in each of our reporting units for impairment on October 1, 2023 on the basis of qualitative factors. Our consideration of qualitative factors included but was not limited to macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, company specific events, changes in circumstances, after tax cash flows and market capitalization trends.
Long-lived assets Finite-lived intangible assets, property, plant, and equipment, and other long-lived assets held for use are amortized or depreciated over their estimated useful lives, as summarized in the respective notes below. These assets are evaluated for impairment based on the identification of asset groups. Our asset groups align with our reportable segments. We evaluated our asset groups for impairment during the fourth quarter of 2023 and concluded that there were no indicators that an
asset group impairment was more likely than not, with the exception of those described in Note 5, Property, Plant and Equipment.
Asset retirement obligations Certain of the Company’s lease agreements contain provisions requiring the Company to restore facilities or remove property in the event that the lease agreement is not renewed. The Company records an estimate for the cost to comply with these provisions based on what a willing third party would charge for the retirement activity on the date of recognizing the asset retirement obligation. Upon retirement of the related asset and performance of the asset retirement activities, the Company derecognizes the asset retirement obligation and records a gain or loss to reflect the difference between the Company’s estimate and the actual cost to retire the asset. Current ARO liabilities are recorded in accrued liabilities and other in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and noncurrent ARO liabilities are presented in the consolidated balance sheets as “Asset retirement obligations.”
Leases The Company leases various telecommunications sites, warehouses, retail stores, and office facilities for use in our business. These agreements include fixed rental payments as well as variable rental payments such as those based on relevant inflation indices. The accounting lease term includes optional renewal periods that we are reasonably certain to exercise based on our assessment of relevant contractual and economic factors. The related lease payments are discounted at lease commencement using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate in order to measure the lease liability and right-of-use asset.
The incremental borrowing rate is determined using a portfolio approach based on the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over a similar term. The Company uses the observable unsecured borrowing rate and risk-adjusts that rate to approximate a collateralized rate.
Leases The Company leases various telecommunications sites, warehouses, retail stores, and office facilities for use in our business. These agreements include fixed rental payments as well as variable rental payments such as those based on relevant inflation indices. The accounting lease term includes optional renewal periods that we are reasonably certain to exercise based on our assessment of relevant contractual and economic factors. The related lease payments are discounted at lease commencement using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate in order to measure the lease liability and right-of-use asset.
The incremental borrowing rate is determined using a portfolio approach based on the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over a similar term. The Company uses the observable unsecured borrowing rate and risk-adjusts that rate to approximate a collateralized rate.
Income taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated
financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

In assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon generating future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. The Company considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, taxable income in prior carryback years if available and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income, projections for future taxable income over the periods for which the deferred tax assets are deductible, and the option to elect out of bonus depreciation on in-serviced fixed assets, the Company believes it more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized.

The Company recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. The Company records a liability for the difference between the benefit recognized and measured for financial statement purposes and the tax position taken or expected to be taken on the tax return. Changes in the estimate are recorded in the period in which such determination is made.
Stock-based compensation The cost of employee services received in exchange for share-based awards classified as equity is measured using the estimated fair value of the award on the date of the grant, and the related expense is recorded over the recipient’s respective service period. The fair value for the Company’s restricted stock units (“RSUs”) are determined using the Company’s stock price and the fair value for the Company’s Relative Total Shareholder Return (“RTSR”) awards are determined using a Monte Carlo simulation. The Company records forfeitures for its RSUs and RTSRs as they occur. Certain of the Company’s share-based awards contain retirement clauses which state that awards will continue to vest without the requirement of continuous employment after a participant achieves certain service- and age-based requirements (“Retirement Eligibility”). The Company accelerates expense associated with eligible awards for employees who have achieved Retirement Eligibility on the later of the grant date or the date in which Retirement Eligibility is achieved.
Government grants Shentel receives grants from the U.S. Government and its agencies, as well as various state governments under various programs designed to fund telecommunications operations and broadband infrastructure expansion into rural or underserved areas. The grant programs are evaluated to determine if they represent grants related to revenue or capital expenditures. Grants for revenue and operating activities are recorded as other revenue in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) as the services are provided. Grants for capital expenditures are recorded as a reduction to the corresponding property, plant and equipment asset balance and are recognized through a reduction in depreciation expense over the life of the corresponding asset in the Company’s consolidated statements of operating income (loss). Government grants related to revenue and operations are classified as operating cash inflows and grants for capital expenditures are classified as investing cash inflows.
The Company monitors government grants for requirements to ensure that conditions related to grants have been met and there is reasonable assurance that the Company will be able to retain the grant proceeds and to ensure that any contingencies that may arise from not meeting the conditions are appropriately recognized. See Note 13, Government Grants for additional information.
Segments The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) regularly reviews the Company’s results to assess performance and allocates resources at the level of the Company’s two operating segments, Broadband and Tower. Given the differences in the characteristics of the Company’s operating segments, management has determined that the operating segments cannot be combined into one reportable segment. As such, the Company has two reportable segments, Broadband and Tower.
New Accounting Standards
In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, “Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative,” (“ASU 2023-06”) which aligns the disclosure and presentation requirements of a variety of the FASB’s ASC Topics with the requirements described in the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative. ASU 2023-06 will become effective for each amendment on the effective date of the SEC’s
corresponding disclosure rule changes. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting ASU 2023-06 on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures,” (“ASU 2023-07”). The amendments in ASU 2023-07 improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. These enhanced disclosures requirements also include, but are not limited to, the requirement to disclose other segment items by reportable segment, the title and the position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance. The amendments in ASU 2023-07 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting ASU 2023-07 on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures,” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 address investor requests for enhanced income tax information primarily through changes to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting ASU 2023-09 on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Allowance for credit losses Accounts receivable have been reduced by an allowance for amounts that may be uncollectible in the future. This estimated allowance is based primarily on the aging category, historical collection experience and management’s evaluation of the financial condition of the customer. The Company writes off accounts receivable balances deemed uncollectible against the allowance for credit losses generally when the account is turned over for collection to an outside collection agency.