Property, Plant and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is comprised of the following:

	December 31,						Depreciable Lives (Years)
(dollars in millions)	2015			2014
Land and rights-of-way	$	4.3		$	4.3		20	-	Indefinite
Buildings and leasehold improvements	165.0			170.5			3	-	40
Network equipment	2,959.3			2,686.8			2	-	50
Office software, furniture, fixtures and vehicles	131.4			123.9			2	-	14
Construction in process	29.2			25.7			n/a
Gross value	3,289.2			3,011.2
Accumulated depreciation	(2,313.7		)	(2,195.8		)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	975.5		$	815.4

Depreciation expense on property, plant and equipment totaled $141.3 million, $127.2 million, and $126.3 million in 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. In 2015, approximately 79%, compared to approximately 81% in 2014 and 2013, of "Depreciation," as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, was associated with the cost of providing services. There are numerous assets included within network equipment resulting in a range of depreciable lives between 2 and 50 years, the majority of which fall within the range of 7 to 22 years. In the fourth quarter of 2015, we reduced the useful life of our copper assets from 15 years to 7 years as customers have continued to migrate to services provided by our fiber network.

No asset impairment losses were recognized in 2015 or 2013. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Entertainment and Communications segment recognized an asset impairment loss of $4.6 million for the abandonment of an internal use software project.

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, buildings and leasehold improvements, network equipment, and office software, furniture, fixtures and vehicles include $91.2 million and $39.8 million, respectively, of assets accounted for as capital leases. Concurrent with the shut-down of our wireless network, $57.7 million of fully depreciated capital lease assets were transferred to continuing operations as these assets were retained by the Company. These leases were reported in discontinued operations as of December 31, 2014, as they were still being utilized in our wireless operations. Depreciation of capital lease assets is included in "Depreciation and amortization" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.