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Asset Retirement Obligations
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]  
Asset Retirement Obligations
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The components of the changes in the asset retirement obligation liabilities were:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Short-Term
Portion
 
Long-Term
Portion
 
Total
Balance at January 1, 2019
 
$
34

 
$
6,513

 
$
6,547

Accretion
 
29

 
385

 
414

Amounts paid
 
(125
)
 
—

 
(125
)
Increases
 
—

 
20

 
20

Reclassifications
 
162

 
(162
)
 
—

Balance at September 30, 2019
 
$
100

 
$
6,756

 
$
6,856

The short-term portion balance above is included within other current liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2019.
Increases other than accretion, reclassification and amounts paid primarily relate to changes in estimate of the underlying liability, specifically as it relates to updates in estimated costs to remove a transmitter and the estimated timing of removal. The cost associated with the estimated removal costs and timing refinements due to ongoing network rationalization activities is expected to accrete to a total liability of $8.1 million. The total estimated liability is based on the transmitter locations remaining after we have consolidated the number of networks we operate and assume the underlying leases continue to be renewed to that future date.
Accretion expense was $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. Accretion expense related solely to asset retirement obligations and was recorded based on the interest method.