Organization and Description of Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization and Description of Business

Note 1. Organization and Description of Business

Communications Sales & Leasing, Inc. (the “Company,” “CS&L,” “we,” “us” or “our”) was incorporated in the state of Delaware in February 2014 and reorganized in the state of Maryland on September 4, 2014 as a subsidiary of Windstream Holdings, Inc. (“Windstream Holdings” and, together with its consolidated subsidiaries “Windstream”). On April 24, 2015, in connection with the separation and spin-off of CS&L from Windstream (the “Spin-Off”), Windstream contributed certain telecommunications network assets, including fiber and copper networks and other real estate (the “Distribution Systems”) to CS&L, which it leases back from CS&L pursuant to a long-term, triple-net-lease (“the Master Lease”) and a small consumer competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”) business (the “Consumer CLEC Business”) to CS&L in exchange for certain consideration paid to Windstream. The assets and liabilities of the Distribution Systems and Consumer CLEC Business were recorded in our consolidated financial statements on a carryover basis as of the date of the Spin-Off.

We are an independent, internally managed REIT engaged in the acquisition and construction of mission critical infrastructure in the communications industry. We are principally focused on acquiring and constructing fiber optic broadband networks, wireless communications towers, copper and coaxial broadband networks and data centers.  Our fiber infrastructure group, Uniti Fiber, is a leading provider of infrastructure solutions including cell site backhaul and dark fiber, to the telecommunications industry.  Uniti Towers is a provider of build-to-suit construction in both the U.S and Latin America. At December 31, 2016, Uniti Towers’ portfolio consists of 102 wireless communication towers.

The Consumer CLEC Business, which was reported as an integrated operation within Windstream prior to the Spin-Off, offers voice, broadband, long-distance, and value-added services to residential customers located primarily in rural locations.  Substantially all of the network assets used to provide these services to customers are contracted through interconnection agreements with other telecommunications carriers.