Asset Retirement Obligations

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Asset Retirement Obligations — We recognize liabilities and corresponding assets for future obligations associated with the retirement of assets. We have paging equipment assets, principally transmitters, which are located on leased locations. The underlying leases generally require the removal of equipment at the end of the lease term; therefore, a future obligation exists.

At January 1, 2014, we had recognized cumulative asset retirement costs of $3.8 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recorded an increase of $0.1 million in asset retirement costs for a total of $3.9 million at September 30, 2014. The asset retirement cost additions during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 increased paging equipment assets and are being depreciated over the related estimated lives of 51 to 57 months. The asset retirement costs and the corresponding liabilities that have been recorded to date generally relate to either current plans to consolidate networks or to the removal of assets at an estimated future terminal date.

The components of the changes in the asset retirement obligation liabilities were:



	Short-Term Portion			Long-Term Portion			Total
	(Dollars in thousands)
Balance at January 1, 2014	$	358		$	7,599		$	7,957
Accretion	21			543			564
Additions	—			141			141
Reclassifications	373			(373		)	—
Amounts paid	(342		)	—			(342		)
Balance at September 30, 2014	$	410		$	7,910		$	8,320

The balances above were included with accounts payable and accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities, respectively, at September 30, 2014.