Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Note 2. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

We have goodwill in all three of our operating units: Fiber and Data Segment goodwill resulted from our acquisition of IdeaOne Telecom in 2012, CP Telecom in 2009 and Enventis Telecom in 2005. Equipment Segment goodwill resulted from our acquisition of Enventis Telecom and the Telecom Segment goodwill resulted from our acquisition of Heartland Telecommunications in 1997. The tax deductible portion of goodwill is $26,964,000. Our acquisition of IdeaOne Telecom resulted in goodwill of $1,725,000 which is deductible for tax purposes.

(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
Fiber and Data	$	5,384	$	3,659
Equipment	$	596	$	596
Telecom	$	23,048	$	23,048

We changed our date for conducting our analysis to October 1 of each year rather than December 31. This change is practicable and preferable as it (1) provides sufficient time to thoroughly perform the quantitative tests if asset impairment is indicated, (2) provides maximum implementation time for any financial reporting requirements associated with impairment tests for indefinite-lived assets and (3) shifts work performed during the year-end process and facilitates timely interactions with third parties.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values. Identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment. The components of intangible assets are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)		As of December 31, 2012				As of December 31, 2011
		Gross Carrying		Accumulated		Gross Carrying		Accumulated
	Useful Lives	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amortization
Definite-lived intangible assets
Customer relationships	1 - 8 years	$	8,499	$	5,368	$	5,299	$	4,746
Other intangibles	1 - 5 years		2,930		1,250		2,830		1,069
Total		$	11,429	$	6,618	$	8,129	$	5,815

Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets was $803,000, $354,000, and $357,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Total estimated amortization expense for the five years subsequent to 2012 is as follows: 2013 - $893,000; 2014 - $762,000; 2015 - $629,000; 2016 - $567,000; 2017 - $554,000.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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