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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2024
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Regulatory and Litigation Matters The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to certain regulatory and legal proceedings and other claims arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which involve claims for damages and taxes that are substantial in amount. Historically, the Company’s subsidiary, GTT, has been subject to other long-standing litigation proceedings and disputes in Guyana that have not yet been resolved. The Company believes that, except for the items discussed below, for which the Company is currently unable to predict the final outcome, the disposition of matters currently pending will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. Beginning in 2006, the National Frequency Management Unit (now the Telecommunications Agency, or the “NFMU/TA”) and GTT have been engaged in discussions regarding the amount of and methodology for calculation of spectrum fees payable by GTT in Guyana. Since that time, GTT has made payments of undisputed spectrum fees as amounts invoiced by the NFMU, and to its successor, the Telecommunications Authority (“TA”). There have been limited further discussions on the subject of a revised spectrum fee methodology with the TA. GTT has filed several lawsuits in the High Court of Guyana asserting that, despite its denials, Digicel is engaged in international bypass in violation of GTT’s exclusive license rights, the interconnection agreement between the parties, and the laws of Guyana. Digicel filed counterclaims alleging that GTT has violated the terms of the interconnection agreement and Guyana laws. These suits, filed in 2010 and 2012, are currently pending in the Court of Appeals in Guyana, however, the Company cannot accurately predict at this time when the consolidated suit will reach a court of final determination. GTT is also involved in several legal claims regarding its tax filings with the Guyana Revenue Authority (the “GRA”) dating back to 1991 regarding the deductibility of intercompany advisory fees as well as other tax assessments. GTT has maintained that it has no unpaid corporation tax due to the GRA and that any liability GTT might be found to have with respect to the disputed tax assessments would be offset in part by the amounts claimed with respect to rights ATN has pursuant to its agreement with the government of Guyana. GTT’s position has been upheld by various High Court rulings made in its favor including most recently in February 2024, and while all matters have been appealed by the GRA, only one remains pending for determination by the High Court. In February 2020, the Company’s Alaska Communications subsidiary received a draft audit report from USAC in connection with USAC’s inquiry into Alaska Communications’ funding requests under the Rural Health Care Support Program for certain customers for the time period of July 2012 through June 2017. Alaska Communications also received a Letter of Inquiry on March 18, 2018, and subsequent follow up information requests, from the FCC Enforcement Bureau requesting historical information regarding Alaska Communications’ participation in the FCC’s Rural Health Care Support Program. On May 8, 2024, the Company entered into a Consent Decree with the FCC Enforcement Bureau, regarding both the USAC and FCC Enforcement Bureau’s investigation and agreed to (i) pay a settlement amount of approximately $6.3 million, and (ii) enter into a three-year compliance agreement in connection with Alaska Communication’s continued participation in the RHC Program. At this time, the Company believes that it can comply with all of the terms of the compliance agreement. The settlement amount of $6.3 million consists of a $5.3 million cash payment and the $1.0 million forgiveness of certain receivables, both of which have been accrued on the Company’s balance sheet as of September 30, 2024. As such, this settlement will not impact the statement of operations in future periods. With respect to all of the foregoing unresolved matters, the Company believes that some adverse outcome is probable and has accordingly accrued $13.1 million as of September 30, 2024 for these and other potential liabilities arising in various claims, legal actions and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company also faces contingencies that are reasonably possible to occur that cannot currently be estimated. It is the Company’s policy to expense costs associated with loss contingencies, including any related legal fees, as they are incurred.

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