SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates relate to the allowance for credit losses on trade receivables, useful lives of the Company’s fixed and finite-lived intangible assets, allocation of purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets, goodwill and income taxes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Short Term Investments

The Company's short-term investments consist of corporate bonds, which have remaining maturities of more than three months at the date of purchase, and equity securities classified as available for sale, which are stated at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded in other income. The estimated fair values of investments are based on quoted market prices as of the end of the reporting period.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020. The standard requires that certain financial assets be measured at amortized cost reflecting an allowance for estimated credit losses expected to occur over the life of the assets. The estimate of credit losses is based on all relevant information including historical information, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the amounts. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 using the modified retrospective approach, however, there was no impact of adoption on retained earnings.

The standard impacted the Company’s calculation of credit losses from trade receivables. Historically, the

Company recorded credit losses subsequent to the initial revenue transaction. After adoption of ASU 2016-13, the Company will record an estimate of future credit losses in conjunction with the revenue transactions based on the

information available including historical experience, credit worthiness of customers, the Company’s historical experience with customers, current market and economic conditions, and management’s expectations of future conditions. Those estimates will be updated as additional information becomes available. Uncollectible amounts are charged against the allowance account. The Company’s allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable is based on management’s assessment of the collectability of assets pooled together with similar risk characteristics. There is no significant impact to the Company’s operating results for the current period due to the adoption of this standard.

Fixed Assets

The Company’s fixed assets are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method generally between 3 and 39 years. Expenditures for major renewals and betterments that extend the useful lives of fixed assets are capitalized. Repairs and replacements of minor items of property are charged to maintenance expense as incurred. The cost of fixed assets in service and under construction includes internal and external costs necessary to bring an asset to the condition and location necessary for its intended use. Grants received for the construction of assets are recognized as a reduction of the cost of fixed assets, a reduction of depreciation expense over the useful lives of the assets and as an investing cash flow in the statements of cash flows.

The Company capitalizes certain costs of developing and purchasing new information systems in accordance with internal use software guidance. These costs are depreciated over the useful life of the information system. The Company also incurs implementation costs associated with cloud computing arrangements. If these costs do not meet internal use software capitalization guidance, the implementation costs are recorded as prepaid assets and expensed through operating expense over the life of the arrangement.

The fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation is recorded in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. In periods subsequent to initial measurement, period-to-period changes in the liability for an asset retirement obligation resulting from the passage of time and revisions to either the timing or the amount of the original estimate of undiscounted cash flows are recognized. The increase in the carrying value of the associated long-lived asset is depreciated over the corresponding estimated economic life. The consolidated balance sheets include accruals of $4.2 million and $4.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, for estimated costs associated with asset retirement obligations.

In accordance with the authoritative guidance for accounting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, the Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets, including property and equipment, in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying business whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss exists when estimated undiscounted cash flows attributable to an asset are less than its carrying amount. If an asset is deemed to be impaired, the amount of the impairment loss recognized represents the excess of the asset’s carrying value as compared to its estimated fair value, based on management’s assumptions and projections.

Management’s estimate of the future cash flows attributable to its long-lived assets and the fair value of its businesses involve significant uncertainty. Those estimates are based on management’s assumptions of future results, growth trends and industry conditions. If those estimates are not met, the Company could have additional impairment charges in the future, and the amounts may be material.

The Company did not record any fixed asset impairments for the year ended December 31, 2020, 2019 or 2018.

Other Intangible Assets

Intangible assets resulting from the acquisitions of entities accounted for using the purchase method of accounting are estimated by management based on the fair value of assets acquired. These include acquired customer relationships, tradenames, and franchise rights.

Customer relationships are amortized over their estimated lives ranging from 7-13 years, which are based on the pattern in which economic benefit of the customer relationship is estimated to be realized.

Non-Controlling Interests

The non-controlling interests in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets reflect the original investments and subsequent capital contributions made by the minority stockholders in the Company’s subsidiaries which are less than wholly-owned. Non-controlling interests acquired in a business combination are initially recorded at fair value. Subsequently, all non-controlling interest is adjusted for the minority stockholder’s proportional share of the earnings or losses, net of any distributions.

Revenue Recognition

The Company earns revenue from its telecommunication and renewable energy operations. The Company recognizes revenue through the following steps:

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Identification of the contract with a customer

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Identification of the performance obligations in the contract

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Determination of the transaction price

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Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

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Recognize revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies performance obligations

Revenue Recognition- Communications Services

Communication services consists of Mobility, Fixed, and Carrier Services revenue. Mobility revenue consists of retail revenue generated from providing mobile voice and data services to subscribers over the Company’s wireless networks and the sale of related equipment such as handsets and other accessories to its subscribers. The service revenue

generated is recognized over time as the service is rendered and revenues from equipment are recognized when the equipment is delivered to the customer.

Management considers transactions where customers purchase subsidized or discounted equipment and mobile voice or data services to be a single contract. For these contracts, the transaction price is allocated to the equipment and mobile service based on their standalone selling prices. The standalone selling price is based on the amount the Company charges for the equipment and service to similar customers. Equipment revenue is recognized when the equipment is delivered to customers and service revenue is recognized as service is rendered.

Fixed Communications revenue is primarily generated by internet, voice, and video service revenues provided to retail and enterprise customers over the Company’s wireline networks. Revenue from these contracts is recognized over time as the service is rendered to the customer. Fixed revenue also includes revenue from government grants and is recognized in accordance with the grant terms and conditions.

In the Company’s International Telecom segment, Carrier Services revenue is generated from providing international long-distance services, roaming services to other carriers’ customers roaming into the Company’s retail markets, transport services, and access services provided to other telecommunication carriers. In the Company’s US Telecom segment, Carrier Services revenue includes services provided under the FirstNet Transaction, wholesale roaming revenues, the provision of network switching services, tower lease revenue and other services provided to carriers. Revenue is recognized over time as the service is rendered to the customer.

The Company also has certain wholesale roaming agreements that contain stand ready performance obligations and management allocates transaction value to performance obligations based on the standalone selling price. The standalone selling price is the estimated price the Company would charge for the good or service with similar customers in similar circumstances. Management determined the performance obligations were obligations to make the service continuously available and will recognize revenue evenly over the service period.

In July 2019 the Company entered into a Network Build and Maintenance Agreement (the “FirstNet Agreement”) with AT&T Mobility, LLC (“AT&T”) to build a portion of AT&T’s network for the First Responder Network Authority (“FirstNet”) as well as a commercial wireless network in or near the Company’s current operating area in the Southwestern United States (the “FirstNet Transaction”). The FirstNet transaction includes construction and service performance obligations. The Company allocated the transaction price of the FirstNet Agreement to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation in the contract. The standalone selling price is the estimated price the Company would charge for the good or service in a separate transaction with similar customers in similar circumstances. The construction revenue is recognized when the assets are delivered and the service revenue is recognized over time as the service is rendered to the customer.

The Company’s Mobility, Carrier Services, and Fixed communications contracts occasionally include promotional discounts such as free service periods or discounted products. If a contract contains a substantive termination penalty, the transaction price is allocated to the performance obligations based on a standalone selling price resulting in accelerated revenue recognition and the establishment of a contract asset that will be recognized over the life of the contract. If a contract includes a promotional discount but no substantive termination penalty the discount is recorded in the promotional period and no contract asset is established. The Company’s customers also have the option to purchase additional telecommunication services. Generally, these options are not performance obligations and are excluded from the transaction price because they do not provide the customers with a material right.

The Company may charge upfront fees for activation and installation of some of its products and services. These fees are reviewed to determine if they represent a separate performance obligation. If they do not represent a separate performance obligation, the contract price associated with them is recognized over the life of the customer. If the fees represent a performance obligation they are recognized when delivered to the customer based on the standalone selling price.

Sales and use and state excise taxes collected from customers that are remitted to the governmental authorities are reported on a net basis and excluded from the revenues and sales.

The Company also enters into build and maintenance agreements with its customers. The agreements include construction and service performance obligations. The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation in the contract. The standalone selling price is the estimated price the Company would charge for the good or service in a separate transaction with similar customers in similar circumstances.

Revenue Recognition-Other Revenue

Other revenue consists of renewable energy revenue and Managed Services revenue. Renewable energy revenue includes the generation of power through Power Purchase Agreements (“PPAs”) from the Company’s solar plants in India, and prior to its sale in 2018, the United States. The Company recognizes revenue at contractual PPA rates over time as electricity is generated and simultaneously consumed by the customer. Managed services revenue is generated from network, application, infrastructure, and hosting services delivered to customers. The revenue is recognized as the service is delivered to customers.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

The Company recognizes contract assets and liabilities on its balance sheet. Contract assets represent unbilled amounts typically resulting from retail wireless contracts with both a multiyear service period and a promotional discount. In these contracts the revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer. The current portion of the contract asset is recorded in prepayments and other current assets and the noncurrent portion is included in other assets on the Company’s balance sheet.

Contract liabilities consist of advance payments and billings in excess of revenue recognized. Retail revenue for postpaid customers is generally billed one month in advance and recognized over the period that the corresponding service is rendered to customers. To the extent the service is not provided by the reporting date the amount is recognized as a contract liability. Prepaid service, including mobile voice and data services, sold to customers is recorded as deferred revenue prior to the commencement of services. The current portion of contract liabilities are recorded in advanced payments and deposits and the noncurrent portion is included in other liabilities on the Company’s balance sheets.

Leases

Leases

The Company determines if an agreement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, current portion of operating lease liabilities, and operating lease liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property and equipment in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

ROU assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The present value is calculated using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date, as the

Company’s leases do not contain an implicit rate. The Company utilizes assumptions based on its existing borrowing facilities and other market specific data to determine its incremental borrowing rate. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms may include renewal options to extend the lease. The Company includes renewal options that are reasonably certain to be exercised in the initial lease term. When determining whether a renewal option is reasonably certain to be exercised, the Company considers several factors, including the present and anticipated future needs of its customers being serviced by the asset. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not separate non-lease components from lease components.

Accounting for Grants

The Company receives funding from the US Government and its agencies under stimulus and USF and other programs. These funding programs are generally designed to fund telecommunications operations, and infrastructure expansion into rural or underserved areas. The funding programs are evaluated to determine if they represent funding related to revenue, capital expenditures, or operating activities. Funding for revenue and operating activities are recorded as revenue or contra expense in the Company’s consolidated income statement as the services are provided. Funding for capital expenditures is recorded as a reduction to property, plant and equipment on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and a future reduction in depreciation expense in the consolidated income statements. Government funding related to revenue and operations are recorded as operating cash inflows and grants for capital expenditures are recorded as investing cash inflows.

The Company monitors government funding for grant requirements to ensure that conditions related to grants have been met and there is reasonable assurance that the Company will be able to retain the grant proceeds and to ensure that any contingencies that may arise from not meeting the conditions are appropriately recognized. See Note 10, Government Grants.

Credit Concentrations and Significant Customers

Historically, the Company has been dependent on a limited amount of customers for its wholesale roaming business. For the year ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, one customer accounted for 10% and 11% of the Company’s consolidated revenue, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2018, two customers accounted for 11% of the Company’s consolidated revenue.

As of December 31, 2020, two customers accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2019, one customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable.

Employee Benefit Plans

The Company sponsors pension and other postretirement benefit plans for employees of certain subsidiaries. Net periodic pension expense is recognized in the Company’s income statement. The service cost component of net periodic pension expense is presented with other employee compensation within income from operations. Other components of net periodic pension expense, such as interest cost, expected return on plan assets, and amortization of actuarial gains and losses are presented in other income. The Company recognizes a pension or other postretirement benefit plan’s funded status as either an asset or liability in its consolidated balance sheet. Actuarial gains and losses are deferred, reported as a component of other comprehensive income, and amortized through net periodic pension expense in subsequent periods.

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period and does not include any other potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net income per share gives effect to all potentially dilutive securities using the treasury stock method.

The reconciliation from basic to diluted weighted average shares of Common Stock outstanding is as follows (in thousands):


	Year ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018
Basic weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding	15,923	15,983	15,988
Stock options	—	—	54
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding	15,923	15,983	16,042

For the year ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 the calculation of basic and diluted weighted average shares of Common Stock outstanding does not include 5,000 shares, 8,800 shares and 5,000 shares, respectively, relating to stock options as the effects of those options were anti-dilutive.

Business combinations

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, under which the purchase price of the acquisition is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using the fair values determined by management as of the acquisition date. Contingent consideration obligations that are elements of the consideration transferred are recognized as of the acquisition date as part of the fair value transferred in exchange for the acquired business. Acquisition-related costs incurred in connection with a business combination are expensed as incurred.