Long-Term Debt (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Long-Term Debt [Abstract]

Long-Term Debt

			Nine months ended
			September 30, 2014						Interest
									Rate at
	December 31,		Payments		New		September 30,		September 30,
($ in thousands)	2013		and Retirements		Borrowings		2014		2014 *
Senior Unsecured Debt	$	8,107,066	$	(243,125)	$	1,550,000	$	9,413,941	7.77%
Other Secured Debt		13,550		(1,344)		10,801		23,007	3.71%
Rural Utilities Service Loan Contracts		8,930		(311)		-		8,619	6.15%
Total Long-Term Debt	$	8,129,546	$	(244,780)	$	1,560,801	$	9,445,567	7.76%
Less: Debt (Discount)/Premium		2,037						2,570
Less: Current Portion		(257,916)						(262,534)
	$	7,873,667					$	9,185,603

* Interest rate includes amortization of debt issuance costs and debt premiums or discounts. The interest rates at September 30, 2014 represent a weighted average of multiple issuances

Senior Unsecured Debt

($ in thousands)	September 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
	Principal		Interest	Principal		Interest
	Outstanding		Rate	Outstanding		Rate
Senior Notes and Debentures Due:
5/1/2014		-	-		200,000	8.250%
3/15/2015		105,026	6.625%		105,026	6.625%
4/15/2015		96,872	7.875%		96,872	7.875%
10/14/2016 *		416,875	3.035% (Variable)		460,000	3.045% (Variable)
4/15/2017		606,874	8.250%		606,874	8.250%
10/1/2018		582,739	8.125%		582,739	8.125%
3/15/2019		434,000	7.125%		434,000	7.125%
4/15/2020		1,021,505	8.500%		1,021,505	8.500%
7/1/2021		500,000	9.250%		500,000	9.250%
9/15/2021		775,000	6.250%		-	-
4/15/2022		500,000	8.750%		500,000	8.750%
1/15/2023		850,000	7.125%		850,000	7.125%
4/15/2024		750,000	7.625%		750,000	7.625%
1/15/2025		775,000	6.875%		-	-
11/1/2025		138,000	7.000%		138,000	7.000%
8/15/2026		1,739	6.800%		1,739	6.800%
1/15/2027		345,858	7.875%		345,858	7.875%
8/15/2031		945,325	9.000%		945,325	9.000%
10/1/2034		628	7.680%		628	7.680%
7/1/2035		125,000	7.450%		125,000	7.450%
10/1/2046		193,500	7.050%		193,500	7.050%
		9,163,941			7,857,066
Subsidiary Senior Notes and Debentures Due:
2/15/2028		200,000	6.730%		200,000	6.730%
10/15/2029		50,000	8.400%		50,000	8.400%
Total	$	9,413,941	7.59% **	$	8,107,066	7.78% **

*      Represents borrowings under the 2011 CoBank Credit Agreement, as defined below.

**Interest rate represents a weighted average of the stated interest rates of multiple issuances.

Debt Maturities by Year

	Principal
($ in thousands)	Payments
2014 (remaining three months)	$	15,161
2015	$	262,541
2016	$	348,167
2017	$	610,075
2018	$	583,948
2019	$	434,565