INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of provision (benefit) for income taxes

The provision (benefit) for income taxes consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 (in thousands):

	2018			2017			2016
Current provision for income taxes:
Federal	$	58,785		$	77,477		$	113,737
State	8,061			6,625			2,273
	66,846			84,102			116,010
Deferred (benefit) provision for income taxes:
Federal	(68,802		)	(196,468		)	8,555
State	(33,819		)	37,006			(2,437		)
	(102,621		)	(159,462		)	6,118
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	$	(35,775	)	$	(75,360	)	$	122,128

Schedule of reconciliation of federal income taxes at the applicable statutory rate to the recorded provision from continuing operations

The following is a reconciliation of federal income taxes at the applicable statutory rate to the recorded provision:

	2018		2017		2016
Federal statutory rate	21.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
Adjustments:
Federal tax credits (a)	(19.9	)%	(2.2	)%	(0.4	)%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit (b)	(9.0	)%	5.0	%	0.2	%
Non-deductible items (c)	(4.9	)%	1.5	%	1.0	%
Effect of consolidated VIEs (d)	1.6	%	1.0	%	1.2	%
Federal tax reform (e)	(1.4	)%	(54.3	)%	—	%
Domestic production activities deduction	—	%	(1.7	)%	(3.4	)%
Other	0.9	%	0.6	%	(0.3	)%
Effective income tax rate	(11.7	)%	(15.1	)%	33.3	%

(a) During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we recorded a benefit of $58.2 million and $8.3 million, respectively, related to investments in sustainability initiatives whose activities qualify for federal income tax credits through 2021.

(b) Included in state income taxes are deferred income tax effects related to certain acquisitions, intercompany mergers and/or impact of changes in apportionment.

(c) Our 2018 income tax provision includes a $17.7 million permanent benefit recognized from an IRS tax ruling on the treatment of the gain from the sale of certain broadcast spectrum in connection with the Broadcast Incentive Auction, as discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions and Dispositions of Assets.

(d) Certain of our consolidated VIEs incur expenses that are not attributable to non-controlling interests because we absorb certain related losses of the VIEs.  These expenses are not tax-deductible by us, and since these VIEs are treated as pass-through entities for income tax purposes, deferred income tax benefits are not recognized.

(e)

Our 2018 and 2017 income tax provisions include a non-recurring benefit of $4.3 million and $272.1 million, respectively, to reflect the effect of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Reform) enacted on December 22, 2017.

Schedule of total deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities

Total deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

	2018			2017
Deferred Tax Assets:
Net operating losses:
Federal	$	28,630		$	34,861
State	74,339			75,754
Goodwill and intangible assets	12,587			14,389
Other	47,361			33,462
	162,917			158,466
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets	(65,887		)	(62,865		)
Total deferred tax assets	$	97,030		$	95,601
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Goodwill and intangible assets	$	(427,339	)	$	(514,776	)
Property & equipment, net	(80,461		)	(80,630		)
Other	(2,483		)	(15,431		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(510,283		)	(610,837		)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(413,253	)	$	(515,236	)

Schedule of activity related to accrued unrecognized tax benefits

The following table summarizes the activity related to our accrued unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands):

	2018			2017			2016
Balance at January 1,	$	7,237		$	4,739		$	3,257
Additions related to prior year tax positions	120			2,019			420
Additions related to current year tax positions	1,600			610			2,053
Reductions related to prior year tax positions	(453		)	—			—
Reductions related to settlements with taxing authorities	(436		)	(131		)	—
Reductions related to expiration of the applicable statute of limitations	(1,493		)	—			(991		)
Balance at December 31,	$	6,575		$	7,237		$	4,739