Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies	11. Commitments and Contingencies Trans-Pacific Submarine Cable In August 2014, the Company joined several other telecommunication companies to build and operate a trans-Pacific submarine cable system. The total system cost is expected to be $235 million and is primarily composed of a supply contract with the lead contractor. The Company will contribute $25 million over the multi-year construction period in exchange for a fractional ownership in the system. The Company will recognize its fractional share of the cost. In addition, the Company will construct a cable landing station in Hawaii and provide cable landing services. The system is expected to be completed in the second half of 2017. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had incurred capital costs of $18.7 million primarily to the cable contractor for construction with all such costs capitalized to telephone plant under construction. The Company will have excess capacity on its share of the trans-Pacific cable that it will make available to other carriers for a fee. The Company has contracted and expects to enter into additional contracts with other carriers for long-term indefeasible right of use, or IRU, agreements for fiber circuit capacity. The Company may receive up-front payments for services to be delivered over a period of up to 25 years. The Company has entered into agreements for the sale of capacity for $27.0 million plus fees to activate assigned capacity, and for operations and maintenance. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had received up-front payments of $7.2 million. As provided for in one of the agreements, funds of $5.0 million were held in escrow. The funds in escrow will be released to the Company when the trans-Pacific cable is ready for service. The restricted cash is reflected in other current assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. A liability to provide services in the future for all up-front payments is included in advance billings and customer deposits and other liabilities. The Company will recognize revenue for the circuits, beginning upon activation of the services, on a straight-line basis over the contract term. Connect America Fund Phase II In conjunction with reforming the Universal Service Fund, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) established the Connect America Fund (“CAF”) which provides incremental support to broadband service providers. CAF Phase II is the long-term component of the program. In August 2015, the Company notified the FCC that it was accepting CAF Phase II support which amounts to $4.4 million in annual funding. Support is retroactive through the beginning of 2015 and will continue for six years. Under the terms of the CAF Phase II, the Company will offer broadband service at 10 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream or better to approximately 11,000 eligible locations in high-cost areas in the State of Hawaii and will provide voice and broadband services at reasonable rates. For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recognized $1.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively, in CAF Phase II funding as revenue. Collective Bargaining Agreement The Company has a collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1357 (“IBEW”) that expires on December 31, 2017. The agreement covers approximately half of the Company’s work force. Third Party Claims In the normal course of conducting its business, the Company is involved in various disputes with third parties, including vendors and customers. The outcome of such disputes is generally uncertain and subject to commercial negotiations. The Company periodically assesses its liabilities in connection with these matters and records reserves for those matters where it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the loss can be reasonably estimated. Based on management’s most recent assessment, the Company believes that the risk of loss in excess of liabilities recorded is not material for all outstanding claims and disputes and the ultimate outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position. Joint-Owned Utility Poles Each of the electric utilities for the four counties in the State of Hawaii have separate agreements with the Company for the joint ownership and maintenance of utility poles along with other third parties, such as the State of Hawaii. The agreements set forth various circumstances requiring pole removal, installation and replacement and the sharing of costs among the joint pole owners. The agreements allow for the cost of work done by one joint pole owner to be shared by the other joint pole owners based on the apportionment of costs in the agreements. Generally, the electric utilities have maintained, replaced and installed the majority of the jointly-owned poles and have billed the other joint pole owners for their respective share of the costs. The Company has a disagreement with the common owner of the utilities in three of the counties regarding the amount the utilities are requesting for their share of the capitalized costs. For one of the three utilities referenced above, a dispute resolution process is proceeding as specified by the joint pole agreement. For another of the utilities, a complaint for payment was filed by the utility with the State court in 2016. Management of the Company believes the amount recognized in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for amounts due the utilities are reflective of what is owed and a reasonable estimate of the final settlement to be reached with the utilities. Litigation The Company is involved in litigation arising in the normal course of business. The outcome of litigation is not expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

11. Commitments and Contingencies

Trans-Pacific Submarine Cable

In August 2014, the Company joined several other telecommunication companies to build and operate a trans-Pacific submarine cable system. The total system cost is expected to be $235 million and is primarily composed of a supply contract with the lead contractor. The Company will contribute $25 million over the multi-year construction period in exchange for a fractional ownership in the system. The Company will recognize its fractional share of the cost. In addition, the Company will construct a cable landing station in Hawaii and provide cable landing services. The system is expected to be completed in the second half of 2017. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had incurred capital costs of $18.7 million primarily to the cable contractor for construction with all such costs capitalized to telephone plant under construction.

The Company will have excess capacity on its share of the trans-Pacific cable that it will make available to other carriers for a fee. The Company has contracted and expects to enter into additional contracts with other carriers for long-term indefeasible right of use, or IRU, agreements for fiber circuit capacity. The Company may receive up-front payments for services to be delivered over a period of up to 25 years. The Company has entered into agreements for the sale of capacity for $27.0 million plus fees to activate assigned capacity, and for operations and maintenance. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had received up-front payments of $7.2 million. As provided for in one of the agreements, funds of $5.0 million were held in escrow. The funds in escrow will be released to the Company when the trans-Pacific cable is ready for service. The restricted cash is reflected in other current assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. A liability to provide services in the future for all up-front payments is included in advance billings and customer deposits and other liabilities. The Company will recognize revenue for the circuits, beginning upon activation of the services, on a straight-line basis over the contract term.

Connect America Fund Phase II

In conjunction with reforming the Universal Service Fund, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) established the Connect America Fund (“CAF”) which provides incremental support to broadband service providers. CAF Phase II is the long-term component of the program. In August 2015, the Company notified the FCC that it was accepting CAF Phase II support which amounts to $4.4 million in annual funding. Support is retroactive through the beginning of 2015 and will continue for six years. Under the terms of the CAF Phase II, the Company will offer broadband service at 10 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream or better to approximately 11,000 eligible locations in high-cost areas in the State of Hawaii and will provide voice and broadband services at reasonable rates. For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recognized $1.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively, in CAF Phase II funding as revenue.

Collective Bargaining Agreement

The Company has a collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1357 (“IBEW”) that expires on December 31, 2017. The agreement covers approximately half of the Company’s work force.

Third Party Claims

In the normal course of conducting its business, the Company is involved in various disputes with third parties, including vendors and customers. The outcome of such disputes is generally uncertain and subject to commercial negotiations. The Company periodically assesses its liabilities in connection with these matters and records reserves for those matters where it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the loss can be reasonably estimated. Based on management’s most recent assessment, the Company believes that the risk of loss in excess of liabilities recorded is not material for all outstanding claims and disputes and the ultimate outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Joint-Owned Utility Poles

Each of the electric utilities for the four counties in the State of Hawaii have separate agreements with the Company for the joint ownership and maintenance of utility poles along with other third parties, such as the State of Hawaii. The agreements set forth various circumstances requiring pole removal, installation and replacement and the sharing of costs among the joint pole owners. The agreements allow for the cost of work done by one joint pole owner to be shared by the other joint pole owners based on the apportionment of costs in the agreements. Generally, the electric utilities have maintained, replaced and installed the majority of the jointly-owned poles and have billed the other joint pole owners for their respective share of the costs. The Company has a disagreement with the common owner of the utilities in three of the counties regarding the amount the utilities are requesting for their share of the capitalized costs.

For one of the three utilities referenced above, a dispute resolution process is proceeding as specified by the joint pole agreement. For another of the utilities, a complaint for payment was filed by the utility with the State court in 2016. Management of the Company believes the amount recognized in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for amounts due the utilities are reflective of what is owed and a reasonable estimate of the final settlement to be reached with the utilities.

Litigation

The Company is involved in litigation arising in the normal course of business. The outcome of litigation is not expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.