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MOBILITY FUND GRANTS | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
MOBILITY FUND GRANTS |
MOBILITY FUND GRANTS | 10. MOBILITY FUND GRANTS As part of the Federal Communications Commission's ("FCC") reform of its Universal Service Fund ("USF") program, which previously provided support to carriers seeking to offer telecommunications services in high-cost areas and to low-income households, the FCC created two new funds, including the Mobility Fund, a one-time award meant to support wireless coverage in underserved geographic areas in the United States. In August 2013, the Company received FCC final approval for approximately $47.0 million of Mobility Fund support to its Alltel business (the "Alltel Mobility Funds") and $21.7 million of Mobility Fund support to its wholesale wireless business (the "Wholesale Mobility Funds" and collectively with the Alltel Mobility Funds, the "Mobility Funds"), to expand voice and broadband networks in certain geographic areas in order to offer either 3G or 4G coverage. As part of the receipt of the Mobility Funds, the Company committed to comply with certain additional FCC construction and other requirements. A portion of these funds will be used to offset network capital costs and a portion is used to offset the costs of supporting the networks for a period of five years. In connection with the Company's application for the Mobility Funds, the Company issued approximately $29.8 million in letters of credit to the Universal Service Administrative Company ("USAC") in June 2013 to secure these obligations. If the Company fails to comply with any of the terms and conditions upon which the Mobility Funds were granted, or if it loses eligibility for the Mobility Funds, USAC will be entitled to draw the entire amount of the letter of credit applicable to the affected project plus penalties and may disqualify the Company from the receipt of additional Mobility Fund support. In connection with the Company's sale of its Alltel business on September 20, 2013, it notified the FCC and USAC that it would no longer be eligible to perform under the terms and conditions of the Alltel Mobility Funds. At that time, USAC chose not to draw any amounts under our letter of credit securing the Alltel Mobility Funds and the Company made a cash payment of approximately $4.6 million in penalty fees to USAC. The Company was reimbursed for these penalty fees by AT&T Mobility in January 2014. The Company terminated $19.9 million of letters of credit securing the Alltel Mobility Funds on November 13, 2013. The Company began the construction of its Wholesale Mobility Funds projects during the third quarter of 2013 and its results are included in the Company's "U.S. Wireless" segment. As of December 31, 2014, the Company has received approximately $7.3 million in Wholesale Mobility Funds. Of these funds, $1.2 million was recorded as an offset to the cost of the property, plant, and equipment associated with these projects and, consequentially, a reduction of future depreciation expense and $2.3 million is recorded within other current liabilities while the remaining $3.8 million is recorded within other long-term liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014. The balance sheet presentation is based on the timing of the expected usage of the funds which will reduce future operations expenses.

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