Property, Plant And Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

NOTE 6. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment is summarized as follows at December 31:

		Lives (years)		2013		2012
Land		-	$	1,523	$	1,689
Buildings and improvements		10-44		31,485		28,939
Central office equipment¹		3-10		86,370		86,185
Cable, wiring and conduit		15-50		76,107		80,338
Other equipment		3-15		67,887		61,387
Software		3		8,150		7,957
Under construction		-		3,276		4,412
				274,798		270,907
Accumulated depreciation and amortization				163,830		161,140
Property, plant and equipment - net			$	110,968	$	109,767
¹	Includes certain network software.

Our depreciation expense was $17,722 in 2013, $16,933 in 2012 and $16,368 in 2011. Depreciation expense included amortization of software totaling $2,142 in 2013, $2,130 in 2012 and $2,243 in 2011.

Certain facilities and equipment used in operations are leased under operating or capital leases. Rental expenses under operating leases were $3,683 for 2013, $3,507 for 2012, and $3,414 for 2011. At December 31, 2013, the future minimum rental payments under noncancelable operating leases for the years 2014 through 2018 were $3,003, $2,857, $2,694, $2,458, and $2,233, with $11,707 due thereafter. Certain real estate operating leases contain renewal options that may be exercised. Capital leases are not significant.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Includes, but is not limited to, accounting policies and methodology, roll forwards, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, including composite depreciation, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, useful lives and method used, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

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