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GOVERNMENT GRANTS | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2015
GOVERNMENT GRANTS |
GOVERNMENT GRANTS | 8. GOVERNMENT GRANTS The Company has received funding from the U.S. Government and its agencies under Stimulus and Universal Services Fund programs. These are generally designed to fund telecommunications infrastructure expansion into rural or underserved areas of the United States. The fund programs are evaluated to determine if they represent funding related to capital expenditures (capital grants) or operating activities (income grants). 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 $21.7 million of Mobility Fund support to its wholesale wireless business (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 has issued approximately $10.6 million in letters of credit to the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) 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. The Company began the construction of its Mobility Funds projects during the third quarter of 2013 and its results are included in the Company’s “U.S. Wireless” segment. As of September 30, 2015, the Company has received approximately $8.1 million in Mobility Funds. Of these funds, $3.1 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 $1.2 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 September 30, 2015. 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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- Definition The entire disclosure of government grants received or to be received by the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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