XML 18 R12.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.3.0.15
Restructuring Charges
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Restructuring Charges [Abstract] 
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring Charges
The Company’s restructuring activities consist of actions taken to reduce operating costs, integrate recently acquired businesses, and eliminate non-strategic operations. Restructuring liabilities have been established for employee separation obligations, lease abandonment, and conforming commission incentive programs.
A summary of the activity in these liabilities is presented below:

(dollars in millions):
Employee
Separation
 
Lease
Abandonment
 
Other
 
Total
Beginning balance (December 31, 2010)
$
11.7

 
$
7.2

 
$
1.4

 
$
20.3

Utilizations
(3.2
)
 
(0.4
)
 
(1.4
)
 
(5.0
)
First quarter balance (March 31, 2011)
$
8.5

 
$
6.8

 
$

 
$
15.3

Utilizations
(1.1
)
 
(0.5
)
 

 
(1.6
)
Second quarter balance (June 30, 2011)
$
7.4

 
$
6.3

 
$

 
$
13.7

Utilizations
(0.2
)
 
(0.4
)
 

 
$
(0.6
)
Ending balance (September 30, 2011)
$
7.2

 
$
5.9

 
$

 
$
13.1



The liability for employee separations shown in the table above includes future separations based on the Company's written plans.
As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the employee separation liability by segment was as follows:
(dollars in millions):
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
Wireline
$
5.9

 
$
9.4

Wireless
0.7

 
0.8

Data Center Colocation

 

IT Services and Hardware
0.6

 
1.3

Corporate

 
0.2

 
$
7.2

 
$
11.7


In 2010, as a result of decreased Wireline headcount over the past several years, a lease abandonment charge was recorded, representing future lease costs, net of sublease income, on office space abandoned by the Company. The lease obligations are expected to continue through 2015 and the liability remaining as of September 30, 2011 is $2.6 million.
In 2001, the Company adopted a restructuring plan that included initiatives to eliminate non-strategic operations and merge internet operations in the Company's other operations. The Company completed the plan prior to 2003, except for certain lease obligations, which are expected to continue through 2015 and for which a $3.2 million liability remains as of September 30, 2011. These obligations are considered liabilities of the Corporate segment.

At December 31, 2010, other restructuring costs consisted of $1.4 million to conform the Company’s commission incentive program for the Data Center Colocation segment. All payments under this program were completed as of March 31, 2011.
At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, $6.2 million and $9.3 million, respectively, of the restructuring liabilities were included in “Other current liabilities,” and $6.9 million and $11.0 million, respectively, were included in “Other noncurrent liabilities,” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet