Severance and Exit Costs

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]


Note 10.	Severance and Exit Costs

Severance and exit costs consist of lease exit costs primarily associated with tower and cell sites, access exit costs related to payments that will continue to be made under our backhaul access contracts for which we will no longer be receiving any economic benefit, and severance costs associated with reductions in our work force.

As a result of the United States Cellular (U.S. Cellular) asset acquisition, which closed in May 2013, we recorded a liability related to network shutdown costs, which primarily consisted of lease exit costs, for which we agreed to reimburse U.S. Cellular. During the quarter ended June 30, 2015, we revised our estimate and, as a result, we reduced the reserve, resulting in approximately $20 million of income included in "Other, net" on the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

We continually refine our network strategy and evaluate other potential network initiatives to improve the overall performance of our network. Additionally, we have commenced a major cost cutting initiative, which is expected to include headcount reductions, among other actions, to reduce operating expenses and improve our operating cash flows. As a result of these ongoing activities, we may incur future material charges associated with lease and access exit costs, severance, asset impairments, and accelerated depreciation, among others. To date, we have specifically identified exit costs, which are expected to range between approximately $100 million to $175 million, primarily related to ceasing use of WiMAX technology and access exit costs, of which the majority is expected to be incurred by March 31, 2016.

The following provides the activity in the severance and exit costs liability included in "Accounts payable," "Accrued expenses and other current liabilities" and "Other liabilities" within the consolidated balance sheets:



	March 31, 2015		Net Expense			Cash Payments and Other			December 31, 2015
	(in millions)
Lease exit costs	$	291	$	30	⁽¹⁾	$	(107	)	$	214
Severance costs	119		194		⁽²⁾	(129		)	184
Access exit costs	44		3		⁽³⁾	(26		)	21
	$	454	$	227		$	(262	)	$	419

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(1)	In addition to the $20 million income (Wireless only) related to U.S. Cellular, we recognized costs of $32 million (Wireless only), and $50 million (Wireless only) for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2015, respectively, included in "Severance and Exit Costs" on the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.


(2)	For the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2015, we recognized costs of $176 million ($156 million Wireless, $20 million Wireline), and $194 million ($172 million Wireless, $22 million Wireline), respectively, included in "Severance and Exit Costs" on the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.


(3)	For the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2015, we recognized costs of $1 million (Wireless only), and $3 million (Wireless only), respectively, included in "Severance and Exit Costs" on the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.