Commitments and contingencies:	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Commitments and contingencies:
Commitments and contingencies:	4. Commitments and contingencies: Current and potential litigation In accordance with the accounting guidance for contingencies, the Company accrues its estimate of a contingent liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Where it is probable that a liability has been incurred and there is a range of expected loss for which no amount in the range is more likely than any other amount, the Company accrues at the low end of the range. The Company reviews its accruals at least quarterly and adjusts them to reflect the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular matter. The Company has taken certain positions related to its obligations for leased circuits for which it is reasonably possible could result in a loss of up to $3.5 million in excess of the amount accrued at September 30, 2021. The Company is engaged in an arbitration proceeding in Spain in which a former provider of optical fiber to the Company is seeking approximately $9 million for the Company’s early termination of the optical fiber leases, which amount the Company accrued in 2015. The Company has counterclaimed for damages and is contesting its obligation to pay the termination liability. The arbitration is being conducted by the Civil and Commercial Arbitration Court (CIMA) in Madrid, Spain. On October 25, 2021, CIMA issued its decision, awarding the former provider approximately $0.7 million and rejecting the Company’s counterclaims. Both parties have until (i) November 4, 2021 to request clarifications from CIMA regarding clerical or mathematical errors, unaddressed claims or other minor issues and (ii) two months from the later of the date of the award or a subsequent clarifying order from CIMA to file a court action before the High Court of Justice of Madrid to annul the award. The Company’s policy is to not record the impact of legal proceedings until all appeals have been exhausted or legal counsel has advised that any further appeal will likely not change the outcome of the matter. In the ordinary course of business the Company is involved in other legal activities and claims. Because such matters are subject to many uncertainties and the outcomes are not predictable with assurance, the liability related to these legal actions and claims cannot be determined with certainty. Management does not believe that such claims and actions will have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Judgment is required in estimating the ultimate outcome of any dispute resolution process, as well as any other amounts that may be incurred to conclude the negotiations or settle any litigation. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions and such differences could be material.

Commitments and contingencies:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

4. Commitments and contingencies:

Current and potential litigation

In accordance with the accounting guidance for contingencies, the Company accrues its estimate of a contingent liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Where it is probable that a liability has been incurred and there is a range of expected loss for which no amount in the range is more likely than any other amount, the Company accrues at the low end of the range. The Company reviews its accruals at least quarterly and adjusts them to reflect the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular matter. The Company has taken certain positions related to its obligations for leased circuits for which it is reasonably possible could result in a loss of up to $3.5 million in excess of the amount accrued at September 30, 2021.

The Company is engaged in an arbitration proceeding in Spain in which a former provider of optical fiber to the Company is seeking approximately $9 million for the Company’s early termination of the optical fiber leases, which amount the Company accrued in 2015. The Company has counterclaimed for damages and is contesting its obligation to pay the termination liability. The arbitration is being conducted by the Civil and Commercial Arbitration Court (CIMA) in Madrid, Spain. On October 25, 2021, CIMA issued its decision, awarding the former provider approximately $0.7 million and rejecting the Company’s counterclaims. Both parties have until (i) November 4, 2021 to request clarifications from CIMA regarding clerical or mathematical errors, unaddressed claims or other minor issues and (ii) two months from the later of the date of the award or a subsequent clarifying order from CIMA to file a court action before the High Court of Justice of Madrid to annul the award. The Company’s policy is to not record the impact of legal proceedings until all appeals have been exhausted or legal counsel has advised that any further appeal will likely not change the outcome of the matter.

In the ordinary course of business the Company is involved in other legal activities and claims. Because such matters are subject to many uncertainties and the outcomes are not predictable with assurance, the liability related to these legal actions and claims cannot be determined with certainty. Management does not believe that such claims and actions will have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Judgment is required in estimating the ultimate outcome of any dispute resolution process, as well as any other amounts that may be incurred to conclude the negotiations or settle any litigation. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions and such differences could be material.