Accounting Changes and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Accounting Changes and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Changes and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Changes

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (ASU 2015-03), which requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented on the balance sheet as a reduction of debt, similar to the presentation of debt discounts. For public entities, ASU 2015-03 was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. We adopted ASU 2015-03 on January 1, 2016 and, accordingly, deferred financing costs are presented as a reduction of debt in our December 31, 2016 and 2015 consolidated balance sheets. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2015-03, we presented deferred financing costs in other assets, net.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

ASU 2014-09

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09), which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU 2014-09, as amended by ASU No. 2015-14, will replace existing revenue recognition guidance when it becomes effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. This new standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We will adopt ASU 2014-09 effective January 1, 2018 using the cumulative effect transition method. While we are continuing to evaluate the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements, we have identified a number of our current revenue recognition policies that will be impacted by ASU 2014-09, including the accounting for (i) time-limited discounts and free periods provided to our customers and (ii) certain up-front fees charged to our customers. These impacts are discussed below:

• When we enter into contracts to provide services to our customers, we often provide time-limited discounts or free service periods. Under current accounting rules, we recognize revenue net of discounts during the promotional periods and do not recognize any revenue during free service periods. Under ASU 2014-09, revenue recognition will be accelerated for these contracts as the impact of the discount or free service period will be recognized uniformly over the total contractual period.

• When we enter into contracts to provide services to our customers, we often charge installation or other up-front fees. Under current accounting rules, installation fees related to services provided over our cable networks are recognized as revenue in the period during which the installation occurs to the extent these fees are equal to or less than direct selling costs. Under ASU 2014-09, these fees will generally be deferred and recognized as revenue over the contractual period, or longer if the up-front fee results in a material renewal right.

As the above revenue recognition changes have offsetting impacts and both result in a relatively minor shift in the timing of revenue recognition, we currently do not expect ASU 2014-09 to have a material impact on our reported revenue. 

ASU 2014-09 will also impact our accounting for certain upfront costs directly associated with obtaining and fulfilling customer contracts.  Under our current policy, these costs are expensed as incurred unless the costs are in the scope of another accounting topic that allows for capitalization. Under ASU 2014-09, the upfront costs that are currently expensed as incurred will be recognized as assets and amortized to other operating expenses over a period that is consistent with the transfer to the customers of the goods or services to which the assets relate, which we have generally interpreted to be the expected customer life. The impact of the accounting change for these costs will be dependent on numerous factors, including the number of new subscriber contracts added in any given period, but we expect the adoption of this accounting change will initially result in the deferral of a significant amount of operating and selling costs.  

The ultimate impact of adopting ASU 2014-09 for both revenue recognition and costs to obtain and fulfill contracts will depend on the promotions and offers in place during the period leading up to and after the adoption of ASU 2014-09.

ASU 2016-02

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (ASU 2016-02), which, for most leases, will result in lessees recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet with additional disclosures about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees and lessors to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach also includes a number of optional practical expedients an entity may elect to apply. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. Although we are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements, we expect the adoption of this standard will increase the number of leases to be accounted for as capital leases in our consolidated balance sheet.

ASU 2016-09

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation — Stock Compensation, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (ASU 2016-09), which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification within the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2016-09 will result in, among other matters, the immediate recognition for financial reporting purposes of excess tax benefits that currently are not recognized until such time as these tax benefits can be realized as a reduction of income taxes payable.

ASU 2017-04

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (ASU 2017-04), which eliminates the requirement to estimate the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill as determined following the procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Instead, a company should recognize any goodwill impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We expect the adoption of ASU 2017-04 to reduce the complexity surrounding the evaluation of our goodwill for impairment.