Property and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

Property and Equipment

Note 8: Property and Equipment

December 31 (in millions)	Weighted-Average Original Useful Life as of December 31, 2017	2017		2016
Cable distribution system	11 years	$	36,046	$	34,028
Customer premise equipment	6 years	26,392		28,621
Other equipment	9 years	10,518		9,471
Buildings and leasehold improvements	30 years	12,346		10,653
Construction in process	N/A	1,752		1,901
Land	N/A	1,332		1,273
Property and equipment, at cost		88,386		85,947
Less: Accumulated depreciation		49,916		49,694
Property and equipment, net		$	38,470	$	36,253

Property and equipment are stated at cost. We capitalize improvements that extend asset lives and expense repairs and maintenance costs as incurred. We record depreciation using the straight-line method over the asset’s estimated useful life. For assets that are sold or retired, we remove the applicable cost and accumulated depreciation and, unless the gain or loss on disposition is presented separately, we recognize it as a component of depreciation expense.

In accordance with the accounting guidance related to cable television companies, we capitalize the costs associated with the construction of and improvements to our cable transmission and distribution facilities, including scalable infrastructure and line extensions; costs associated with acquiring and deploying new customer premise equipment; and costs associated with installation of our services. Costs capitalized include all direct costs for labor and materials, as well as various indirect costs. Costs incurred in connection with subsequent disconnects and reconnects are expensed as they are incurred.

We evaluate the recoverability of our property and equipment whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The evaluation is based on the cash flows generated by the underlying asset groups, including estimated future operating results, trends or other determinants of fair value. If the total of the expected future undiscounted cash flows were less than the carrying amount of the asset group, we would recognize an impairment charge to the extent the carrying amount of the asset group exceeded its estimated fair value. Unless presented separately, the impairment charge is included as a component of depreciation expense.

NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

Property and Equipment

Note 8: Property and Equipment

December 31 (in millions)	Weighted-Average Original Useful Life as of December 31, 2017	2017		2016
Buildings and leasehold improvements	31 years	$	8,124	$	7,543
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	11 years	4,843		4,158
Construction in process	N/A	1,506		1,176
Land	N/A	1,039		984
Property and equipment, at cost		15,512		13,861
Less: Accumulated depreciation		4,166		3,350
Property and equipment, net		$	11,346	$	10,511

Property and equipment are stated at cost. We capitalize improvements that extend asset lives and expense repairs and maintenance costs as incurred. We record depreciation using the straight-line method over the asset’s estimated useful life. For assets that are sold or retired, we remove the applicable cost and accumulated depreciation and, unless the gain or loss on disposition is presented separately, we recognize it as a component of depreciation expense.

We evaluate the recoverability of our property and equipment whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The evaluation is based on the cash flows generated by the underlying asset groups, including estimated future operating results, trends or other determinants of fair value. If the total of the expected future undiscounted cash flows were less than the carrying amount of the asset group, we would recognize an impairment charge to the extent the carrying amount of the asset group exceeded its estimated fair value. Unless presented separately, the impairment charge is included as a component of depreciation expense.