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Pension and Postretirement Plans
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
General Discussion of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]
Pension and Postretirement Plans
The Company sponsors three noncontributory defined benefit plans and a postretirement health and life insurance plan. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, approximately 10% of the costs were capitalized as a component of property, plant and equipment related to construction of our copper and fiber networks.
For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, pension and postretirement benefit costs were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
(dollars in millions)
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement and
Other Benefits
Service cost
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
0.1

 
$
0.1

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
4.8

 
4.6

 
0.8

 
0.8

Expected return on plan assets
(6.8
)
 
(7.2
)
 
—

 
—

Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service cost (benefit)
—

 
0.1

 
(3.7
)
 
(3.9
)
Actuarial loss
4.8

 
5.1

 
1.2

 
1.4

       Total amortization
4.8

 
5.2

 
(2.5
)
 
(2.5
)
Pension / postretirement costs (benefits)
$
2.8

 
$
2.6

 
$
(1.6
)
 
$
(1.6
)


Amortizations of prior service cost (benefit) and actuarial loss represent reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income.

Based on current assumptions, management believes it will not make any contributions to the qualified pension plan in 2016. Contributions to non-qualified pension plans in 2016 are expected to be approximately $2 million. Management expects to make cash payments of approximately $10 million related to its postretirement health plans in 2016.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, contributions to non-qualified pension plans were $0.6 million and contributions to the postretirement plan were $1.9 million.