Related Party Transactions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

Pursuant to the Management Agreement, CCUSA has agreed to employ, supervise and pay at all times a sufficient number of capable employees as may be necessary to perform services in accordance with the operation standards defined in the Management Agreement. CCUSA currently acts as the Manager of the sites held by subsidiaries of CCIC. The management fee is equal to 7.5% of the Company's "Operating Revenues," as defined in the Management Agreement, which is based on the Company's reported revenues from tenant contracts adjusted to exclude certain items including revenues related to the accounting for leases with fixed escalators. The fee is compensation for those functions reasonably necessary to maintain, market, operate, manage and administer the sites, other than the operating expenses (which includes real estate and personal property taxes, ground lease and easement payments, and insurance premiums).

Further, in connection with its role as Manager, CCUSA may offer certain installation and modification services to tenants on the Company's towers; however, the Company receives no cash from, and is not party to, such transactions. The Company includes the deferred revenue for a portion of the transaction price for the tower installation and modification services, which represents a lease component under GAAP, within "Deferred revenues" and "Other long-term liabilities" on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet and recognizes it as "Amortization of tower installations and modifications" on the Company's condensed consolidated statement of operations over the associated estimated lease term. The portions of the transaction price which do not represent a lease component are not reflected in the Company's operating results.

As part of CCIC's strategy to obtain long-term control of the land under its towers, affiliates of the Company have acquired rights to land under the Company's towers. These affiliates then lease the land to the Company, and the Company pays ground rent expenses to the affiliates. Under such circumstances, the Company's obligation typically continues with the same or similar economic terms as the contract for the land that existed prior to the purchase of such land by the affiliate. As of September 30, 2021, more than 30% of the Company's towers were located on land controlled by an affiliate. Also, the Company receives site rental revenues from affiliates for land owned by the Company on which affiliates have towers.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded equity distributions of $317.1 million and $308.0 million, respectively, reflecting distributions to its member. Cash on-hand above the amount that is required by the Management Agreement has been, and is expected to continue to be, distributed to the Company's parent company. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, other than the amounts of its ROU assets and operating lease liabilities related to land leased from affiliates of the Company reflected in "Operating lease right-of-use assets," "Current portion of operating lease liabilities—related parties" and "Operating lease liabilities—related parties," the Company had no material related party assets or liabilities on its condensed consolidated balance sheet.