Commitments and Contingencies |
6 Months Ended |
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Jun. 30, 2020 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Commitments and Contingencies | Note 17 – Commitments and Contingencies Purchase Commitments We have commitments for non-dedicated transportation lines with varying expiration terms that generally extend through 2029. In addition, we have commitments to purchase wireless devices, network services, equipment, software, marketing sponsorship agreements and other items in the ordinary course of business, with various terms through 2043. These amounts are not reflective of our entire anticipated purchases under the related agreements but are determined based on the non-cancelable quantities or termination amounts to which we are contractually obligated. Our purchase commitments, including purchase commitments assumed through the Merger, are approximately $4.2 billion for the year ending June 30, 2021, $3.5 billion in total for the years ending June 30, 2022 and 2023, $1.6 billion in total for the years ending June 30, 2024 and 2025 and $1.3 billion in total for the years thereafter. Spectrum Leases In connection with the Merger, we assumed certain spectrum lease contracts from Sprint that include service obligations to the lessors. Certain of the spectrum leases provide for minimum lease payments, additional charges, renewal options and escalation clauses. Leased spectrum agreements have varying expiration terms that generally extend through 2050. We expect that all renewal periods in our spectrum leases will be exercised by us. Our spectrum lease and service credit commitments, including renewal periods, are approximately $277 million for the year ending June 30, 2021, $595 million in total for the years ending June 30, 2022 and 2023, $588 million in total for the years ending June 30, 2024 and 2025 and $5.2 billion in total for the years thereafter. We accrue a monthly obligation for the services and equipment based on the total estimated available service credits divided by the term of the lease. The obligation is reduced by services provided and as actual invoices are presented and paid to the lessors. The maximum remaining commitment on June 30, 2020 was $93 million and is expected to be incurred over the term of the related lease agreements, which generally range from 15 to 30 years. Merger Commitments In connection with the regulatory proceedings and approvals of the Transactions, we made commitments to various state and federal agencies, including the DOJ and FCC. These commitments include, among other things, extensive 5G network build-out commitments, obligations to deliver high-speed wireless services to the vast majority of Americans, including Americans residing in rural areas, and the marketing of an in-home broadband product where spectrum capacity is available. Other commitments relate to national security, pricing, service, employment and support of diversity initiatives. Many of the commitments specify time frames for compliance. Failure to fulfill our obligations under these commitments in a timely manner could result in substantial fines, penalties, or other legal and administrative actions. Our monetary commitments associated with these settlements are approximately $12.2 million for the year ended June 30, 2021, $44.4 million in total for the years ended June 30, 2022 and 2023 and $17.2 million in total for the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2025. These amounts do not represent our entire anticipated costs to achieve specified network coverage and performance requirements, employment targets or commitments to provide access to affordable rate plans, but represent only those amounts for which we are required to make a specified payment in connection with settlements. Contingencies and Litigation Litigation Matters On February 28, 2020, we received a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Admonishment from the FCC (“FCC NAL”), which proposed a penalty against us for allegedly violating section 222 of the Communications Act and the FCC’s regulations governing the privacy of customer information. We recorded an accrual for an estimated payment amount as of June 30, 2020, which was included in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. On April 1, 2020, in connection with the closing of the Merger, we assumed the contingencies and litigation matters of Sprint. Those matters include a wide variety of disputes, claims, government agency investigations and enforcement actions, and other proceedings, including, among other things, certain ongoing FCC and state government agency investigations into Sprint’s Lifeline program. In September 2019, Sprint notified the FCC that it had claimed monthly subsidies for serving subscribers even though these subscribers may not have met usage requirements under Sprint's usage policy for the Lifeline program, due to an inadvertent coding issue in the system used to identify qualifying subscriber usage that occurred in July 2017 while the system was being updated. Sprint has made a number of payments to reimburse the federal government and certain states for excess subsidy payments. Resolution of these matters could require making additional reimbursements and paying additional fines and penalties. We note that pursuant to Amendment No 2. to the Business Combination Agreement, SoftBank agreed to indemnify us against certain specified matters and losses (including the Lifeline matter noted above). As of the Merger close date and June 30, 2020, we have not recorded an indemnification asset or contingent liability associated with these matters as the potential liabilities and associated reimbursement by SoftBank cannot be reasonably estimated. We expect that any liability incurred related to these indemnified matters would be indemnified and reimbursed by SoftBank. We are involved in various lawsuits and disputes, claims, government agency investigations and enforcement actions, and other proceedings (“Litigation Matters”) that arise in the ordinary course of business, which include claims of patent infringement (most of which are asserted by non-practicing entities primarily seeking monetary damages), class actions, and proceedings to enforce FCC rules and regulations. The Litigation Matters described above have progressed to various stages and some of them may proceed to trial, arbitration, hearing or other adjudication that could result in fines, penalties, or awards of monetary or injunctive relief in the coming 12 months if they are not otherwise resolved. We have established an accrual with respect to certain of these matters, where appropriate, which is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements but that is not considered to be, individually or in the aggregate, material. An accrual is established when we believe it is both probable that a loss has been incurred and an amount can be reasonably estimated. For other matters, where we have not determined that a loss is probable or because the amount of loss cannot be reasonably estimated, we have not recorded an accrual due to various factors typical in contested proceedings, including but not limited to uncertainty concerning legal theories and their resolution by courts or regulators, uncertain damage theories and demands, and a less than fully developed factual record. While we do not expect that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, an unfavorable outcome of some or all of these proceedings could have a material adverse impact on results of operations or cash flows for a particular period. This assessment is based on our current understanding of relevant facts and circumstances. As such, our view of these matters is subject to inherent uncertainties and may change in the future.
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