Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Schedule of changes in allowance for doubtful accounts

We maintain our allowance for doubtful accounts at a balance adequate to reduce accounts receivable to the amount of cash expected to be realized upon collection. The methodology used to determine the minimum allowance balance is based on our prior collection experience and is generally related to the accounts receivable balance in various aging categories. The balance is also influenced by specific clients’ financial strength and circumstances and current market conditions. Accounts that are determined to be uncollectible are written off in the period in which they are determined to be uncollectible. Periodic changes to the allowance balance are recorded as increases or decreases to bad debt expense, which is included in the “Advertising, selling, general and administrative” line of our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts consisted of the following:



	Year Ended December 31,
In thousands	2015			2014			2013
Balance at beginning of year	$	1,224		$	1,729		$	2,574
Increase in allowance charged to expense	630			(68		)	47
Account charges against the expense	(605		)	(437		)	(892		)
Balance at end of year	$	1,249		$	1,224		$	1,729

Schedule of estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated on the basis of cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The general ranges of estimated useful lives are:



Buildings and improvements	10	to	40 years
Software	3	to	10 years
Equipment and furniture	3	to	20 years

Schedule of capital lease assets

Property, plant and equipment includes capital lease assets. Capital lease assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014 consisted of:



	December 31,
In thousands	2015			2014
Equipment and furniture	$	1,088		$	1,351
Less accumulated amortization	(767		)	(980		)
Net book value	$	321		$	371

Schedule of information about the operations in different geographical areas

Information about the operations in different geographic areas:



	Year Ended December 31,
In thousands	2015		2014		2013
Revenue (1)
United States	$	411,775	$	463,752	$	469,596
Other countries	83,526		89,924		90,013
Total revenue	$	495,301	$	553,676	$	559,609



	December 31,
In thousands	2015		2014
Property, plant and equipment (2)
United States	$	29,437	$	33,134
Other countries	4,476		3,779
Total property, plant and equipment	$	33,913	$	36,913


(1)	Geographic revenues are based on the location of the service being performed.


(2)	Property, plant and equipment are based on physical location.