Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

Other intangible assets were as follows at:

	March 31, 2015							December 31, 2014
(Millions)	Gross Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
Franchise rights	$	1,285.1	$	(254.0	)	$	1,031.1	$	1,285.1	$	(243.3	)	$	1,041.8
Customer lists	1,914.0		(1,249.8		)	664.2		1,914.0		(1,203.4		)	710.6
Cable franchise rights	39.8		(28.5		)	11.3		39.8		(28.2		)	11.6
Other (a)	42.0		(38.1		)	3.9		37.9		(37.9		)	—
Balance	$	3,280.9	$	(1,570.4	)	$	1,710.5	$	3,276.8	$	(1,512.8	)	$	1,764.0

(a) During the first quarter of 2015, we acquired for cash non-exclusive licenses to various patents, which are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of 3 years.

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Methodology and Estimated Useful Life [Table Text Block]

Intangible asset amortization methodology and useful lives were as follows as of March 31, 2015:

Intangible Assets	Amortization Methodology	Estimated Useful Life
Franchise rights	straight-line	30 years
Customer lists	sum-of-years-digits	9 - 15 years
Cable franchise rights	straight-line	15 years
Other	straight-line	1 - 3 years

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

Amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization was $57.6 million for the three month period endedMarch 31, 2015, as compared to $65.6 million for the same period in 2014. Amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization was estimated to be as follows for each of the twelve month periods ended March 31:

Year	(Millions)
2016	$	215.2
2017	187.1
2018	159.1
2019	131.3
2020	106.2
Thereafter	911.6
Total	$	1,710.5