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Leases
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Leases [Abstract]  
Leases

Note 4. Leases

Lessor Accounting

We lease communications towers, ground, colocation, and dark fiber to tenants under operating leases. Our leases have initial lease terms ranging from less than one year to 35 years, most of which include options to extend or renew the leases for less than one year to 20 years (based on the satisfaction of certain conditions as defined in the lease agreements), and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within one to six months. Certain lease agreements contain provisions for future rent increases. Payments due under the lease contracts include fixed payments plus, for some of our leases, variable payments.

The components of lease income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

(Thousands)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Lease income - operating leases

 

$

221,565

 

 

$

205,195

 

 

Lease payments to be received under non-cancellable operating leases where we are the lessor for the remainder of the lease terms are as of March 31, 2022 are as follows:

 

(Thousands)

 

March 31, 2022 (1)

 

2022

 

$

566,495

 

2023

 

 

772,167

 

2024

 

 

774,111

 

2025

 

 

775,326

 

2026

 

 

776,735

 

Thereafter

 

 

3,033,462

 

Total lease receivables

 

$

6,698,296

 

(1) Total future minimum lease payments to be received include $5.7 billion relating to the Windstream Leases.

 

 

The underlying assets under operating leases where we are the lessor are summarized as follows:

 

(Thousands)

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

Land

 

$

26,580

 

 

$

26,593

 

Building and improvements

 

 

343,934

 

 

 

343,624

 

Poles

 

 

285,474

 

 

 

281,130

 

Fiber

 

 

3,317,265

 

 

 

3,278,276

 

Equipment

 

 

428

 

 

 

428

 

Copper

 

 

3,933,940

 

 

 

3,918,281

 

Conduit

 

 

89,859

 

 

 

89,859

 

Tower assets

 

 

1,397

 

 

 

1,397

 

Finance lease assets

 

 

28,126

 

 

 

28,126

 

Other assets

 

 

10,577

 

 

 

10,649

 

 

 

 

8,037,580

 

 

 

7,978,363

 

Less:  accumulated depreciation

 

 

(5,433,927

)

 

 

(5,391,479

)

Underlying assets under operating leases, net

 

$

2,603,653

 

 

$

2,586,884

 

 

 

Depreciation expense for the underlying assets under operating leases where we are the lessor for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, is summarized as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

(Thousands)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Depreciation expense for underlying assets under operating leases

 

$

43,187

 

 

$

45,913

 

Lessee Accounting

We have commitments under operating leases for communications towers, ground, colocation, dark fiber lease arrangements, and buildings. We also have finance leases for dark fiber lease arrangements and other communications equipment. Our leases have initial lease terms ranging from less than one year to 30 years, most of which include options to extend or renew the leases for less than one year to 20 years, and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within one to six months. Certain lease agreements contain provisions for future rent increases. Payments due under the lease contracts include fixed payments plus, for some of our leases, variable payments.

As of March 31, 2022, we have short term lease commitments amounting to approximately $2.5 million.

Future lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of March 31, 2022 are as follows:

 

(Thousands)

 

Operating Leases

 

 

Finance Leases

 

2022

 

$

11,387

 

 

$

1,724

 

2023

 

 

13,515

 

 

 

2,281

 

2024

 

 

11,204

 

 

 

2,082

 

2025

 

 

8,590

 

 

 

2,021

 

2026

 

 

5,964

 

 

 

2,021

 

Thereafter

 

 

37,309

 

 

 

14,749

 

Total undiscounted lease payments

 

$

87,969

 

 

$

24,878

 

Less:  imputed interest

 

 

(28,290

)

 

 

(9,734

)

Total lease liabilities

 

$

59,679

 

 

$

15,144