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Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Disclosure Text Block  
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities

7. Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

 

Investments in unconsolidated entities consist of amounts invested in wireless entities in which U.S. Cellular holds a noncontrolling interest. These investments are accounted for using either the equity or cost method.

 

 

 The following table, which is based on information provided in part by third parties, summarizes the combined results of operations of U.S. Cellular’s equity method investments.
             
  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2014 2013 2014 2013
(Dollars in thousands)           
Revenues$ 1,643,734 $ 1,577,934 $ 4,861,057 $ 4,593,690
Operating expenses   1,225,417   1,125,966   3,540,783   3,256,399
Operating income  418,317   451,968   1,320,274   1,337,291
Other income, net  1,651   1,063   4,077   2,773
Net income$ 419,968 $ 453,031 $ 1,324,351 $ 1,340,064

NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation

 

U.S. Cellular holds a 60.00% interest in St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership (“NY1”) and a 57.14% interest in New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership (“NY2”)  (together with NY1, the “Partnerships”). The remaining interests in the Partnerships are held by Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (“Verizon Wireless”). Prior to April 3, 2013, because U.S. Cellular owned a greater than 50% interest in each of these Partnerships and based on U.S. Cellular's rights under the Partnership Agreements, U.S. Cellular consolidated the financial results of these Partnerships in accordance with GAAP. 

 

On April 3, 2013, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with Verizon Wireless relating to the Partnerships. The agreement amends the Partnership Agreements in several ways which provide Verizon Wireless with substantive participating rights that allow Verizon Wireless to make decisions that are in the ordinary course of business of the Partnerships and which are significant to directing and executing the activities of the business. Accordingly, as required by GAAP, U.S. Cellular deconsolidated the Partnerships effective as of April 3, 2013 and thereafter reported them as equity method investments in its consolidated financial statements (“NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation”).  After the NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation, U.S. Cellular retained the same ownership percentages in the Partnerships and continues to report the same percentages of income from the Partnerships. Effective April 3, 2013, U.S. Cellular's income from the Partnerships is reported in Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.