BUSINESS DESCRIPTION & SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

BUSINESS DESCRIPTION & SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Summary of activity for ACL

(In thousands)	2021		2020		2019
Balance at beginning of year	$	9,136	$	4,549	$	4,421
Cumulative adjustment upon adoption of ASU 2016-13		—		144		—
Provision charged to expense		7,752		11,573		9,347
Write-offs, less recoveries		(6,927)		(7,130)		(9,219)
Balance at end of year	$	9,961	$	9,136	$	4,549

Schedule of property, plant and equipment

	December 31,		December 31,		Estimated
(In thousands)	2021		2020		Useful Lives
Land and buildings	$	276,027	$	274,535	18	-	40	years
Central office switching and transmission		1,590,510		1,475,590	3	-	25	years
Outside plant cable, wire and fiber facilities		2,152,253		2,036,312	3	-	50	years
Furniture, fixtures and equipment		324,562		303,680	3	-	15	years
Assets under finance leases		44,495		40,407	2	-	20	years
Total plant in service		4,387,847		4,130,524
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		(2,698,421)		(2,466,407)
Plant in service		1,689,426		1,664,117
Construction in progress		265,054		64,056
Construction inventory		64,964		31,979
Totals	$	2,019,444	$	1,760,152

Schedule of carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets

					December 31, 2021				December 31, 2020
					Gross Carrying		Accumulated		Gross Carrying		Accumulated
(In thousands)	Useful Lives				Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amortization
Customer relationships	5	-	11	years	$	318,498	$	(244,559)	$	318,921	$	(205,503)

Schedule of expected amortization expense

(In thousands)
2022	$	30,850
2023		23,963
2024		10,617
2025		3,180
2026		2,529
Thereafter		2,800
Total	$	73,939

Schedule of supplemental cash flow information

(In thousands)	2021		2020		2019
Interest, net of amounts capitalized ($5,590, $1,660 and $3,737 in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively)	$	123,031	$	120,897	$	129,508
Income taxes paid (received), net	$	836	$	(553)	$	(8,374)