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Pension and Postretirement Plans
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
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, 2017 and 2016, approximately 12% and 10%, respectively, 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, 2017 and 2016, pension and postretirement benefit costs (benefits) were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
(dollars in millions)
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement and
Other Benefits
Service cost
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
0.1

 
$
0.1

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
4.8

 
4.8

 
0.8

 
0.8

Expected return on plan assets
(6.5
)
 
(6.8
)
 
—

 
—

Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service benefit
—

 
—

 
(1.1
)
 
(3.7
)
Actuarial loss
4.4

 
4.8

 
1.1

 
1.2

       Total amortization
4.4

 
4.8

 
—

 
(2.5
)
Pension / postretirement costs (benefits)
$
2.7

 
$
2.8

 
$
0.9

 
$
(1.6
)


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

Based on current assumptions, contributions to qualified and non-qualified pension plans in 2017 are expected to be approximately $2 million each. Management expects to make cash payments of approximately $9 million related to its postretirement health plans in 2017.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, contributions to the pension plans were $0.6 million and contributions to the postretirement plan were $2.0 million.